depolymerase

https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.13901
Enzyme that is able to catalyse the depolymerization of a biomacromolecule.
Notes:
  1. A depolymerase does not necessarily convert all the macromolecules to monomer molecules, occasionally, a specific oligomer is the end-product, depending on the mechanism.
  2. This term is generally used in the case of macromolecules produced by bacteria, because bacteria have the potential to degrade the biopolymers they synthesized.
Source:
PAC, 2012, 84, 377. (Terminology for biorelated polymers and applications (IUPAC Recommendations 2012)) on page 389 [Terms] [Paper]
Citation: 'depolymerase' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.13901 RIS BibTex EndNote
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