Definition

A type of enzyme that breaks down thiamine, a vitamin important for metabolism, into smaller parts.

Example

Thiaminase can reduce the levels of thiamine in the body, leading to deficiency.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of thiaminase?

No, what is that?

It's an enzyme that breaks down thiamine, which is important for our health.

That sounds interesting! I didn't know enzymes could do that.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Thiaminase → It is formed from "thiamine" (from Greek "thiaminē", meaning a vitamin essential for carbohydrate metabolism) and "-ase" (a suffix used in biochemistry to denote enzymes). The word "thiaminase" refers to an enzyme that breaks down thiamine.

Memory Tip

Think of 'thiamine' as the vitamin that is being broken down by the enzyme indicated by '-ase'. This helps you remember that thiaminase is an enzyme that acts on thiamine.

Visually Confused Words