Definition

A type of enzyme that helps remove a carboxyl group from a molecule, often involved in the breakdown of amino acids.

Example

Decarboxylase plays a crucial role in the metabolism of certain amino acids.

Conversation

I was reading about how important decarboxylase enzymes are in our body.

Really? What do they do exactly?

They help in breaking down amino acids, which is fascinating!

That makes sense; enzymes play such a key role in digestion.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Decarboxylase is formed from "de-" (meaning removal), "carboxyl" (from the Greek "karbon" meaning carbon and "oxys" meaning acid, referring to the carboxyl functional group), and "-ase" (a suffix used in biochemistry to denote enzymes). The word describes an enzyme that removes a carboxyl group from a molecule.

Memory Tip

Think of 'removing' ('de-') a 'carbon acid group' ('carboxyl') — that's what decarboxylase does as an enzyme.

Visually Confused Words