Definition

A type of enzyme that helps break down arginine, a substance found in the body, into urea and ornithine, mainly in the liver.

Example

Arginase plays a crucial role in the urea cycle by converting arginine into urea and ornithine.

Conversation

Have you heard about arginase and its role in the body?

Yeah, it’s that enzyme that helps break down arginine, right?

Exactly! It converts arginine into urea and ornithine.

That's pretty interesting; I didn't know enzymes could do that.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Arginase is formed from "arginine" (from Greek "arginon", meaning a basic amino acid) and "-ase" (a suffix used in biochemistry to denote enzymes). The word refers to an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of arginine.

Memory Tip

Think of 'arginine' as the amino acid that this enzyme works with, and '-ase' indicates that it is an enzyme. So, arginase is an enzyme related to arginine.

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