A photoreactivating enzyme which, under the influence of light, catalyses the separation of pyrimidine dimers formed in DNA by the action of ultraviolet irradiation.
Origin
1970s. From photo- + ly- + -ase.
Definition of photolyase in US English:
photolyase
nounˌfəʊtəʊˈlʌɪeɪz
Biochemistry
A photoreactivating enzyme which, under the influence of light, catalyses the separation of pyrimidine dimers formed in DNA by the action of ultraviolet irradiation.