from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
enzyme \en"zyme\ ([e^]n"z[imac]m), n. [Pref. en- (Gr. 'en in) +
Gr. zy`mh leaven.] (Physiol. Chem.)
A protein produced by a living organism, capable of
catalyzing a chemical reaction. Almost all processes in
living organisms require some form of enzyme to cause the
reactions to occur at a rate sufficient to support life.
There are a very wide variety of enzymes, each specifically
catalyzing a different chemical reaction, the sum of which
cause the bulk of the physiological changes observed as life
processes. Enzymes, like most proteins, are synthesized by
the protein-synthetic mechanism of the living cell, at
special sites on ribosomes, using the genetic information in
messenger RNA transcribed from the genetic instructions
stored as nuleotide sequences in the DNA (or in some viruses,
the RNA) of the genome. Some examples of enzymes are: pepsin,
diastase, rennet, DNA polymerase, invertase, glucose oxidase,
protease, and ribonuclease. There are many other types of
enzyme.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
Note: The 1913 Webster defined an enzyme as:
An unorganized or unformed ferment, in distinction from
an organized or living ferment; a soluble, or chemical,
ferment.
[PJC]