What is the Difference Between Hydrolases and Lyases

The main difference between hydrolases and lyases is that hydrolases catalyze the hydrolysis of chemical bonds using water molecules, whereas lyases catalyze the cleavage of chemical bonds without the use of water molecules.

Enzymes are substances that catalyze reactions by regulating the rate at which the chemical reaction proceeds without being involved in the process. Enzymes regulate most biological processes that happen within living organisms. They are usually proteins. But some RNA molecules also function as enzymes. They bind to the specific molecules called the substrates, which result in the formation of new products. Moreover, enzymes are highly specific. In fact, they only catalyze the specific reactions with specific substrates as they have a very precise 3D structure and an active site to which the substrate binds. There are many different types of enzymes, and hydrolases and lyases are two of them.

Key Areas Covered  

1. What are Hydrolases  
     – Definition, Features, Examples
2. What are Lyases
     – Definition, Features, Examples
3. Difference Between Hydrolases and Lyases
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Hydrolases, Lyases

Difference Between Hydrolases and Lyases - Comparison Summary

What are Hydrolases

Hydrolases are a type of enzyme that use water to break chemical bonds. Generally, hydrolases divide larger molecules into smaller molecules. Examples of hydrolases are esterases, including lipases, glycosidases, peptidases, and nucleosidases. Hydrolases are involved in the breakdown of complex macromolecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates. Lipases hydrolyze fats and oils into glycerol and fatty acids, while glycosidases break down complex carbohydrates such as starch and glycogen into simple sugars. Hence, there are several types of hydrolases.

Hydrolases vs Lyases

The hydrolysis reaction catalyzed by hydrolases involves the addition of a water molecule to the bond that is to be broken. Here, the water molecule is divided into a proton and a hydroxyl group which is added to the two ends of the bond resulting in its cleavage. In addition, in this reaction, hydrolases are not subject to changes.

Moreover, hydrolases are present in many organisms, including bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals. These hydrolases are useful in drug development.

What are Lyases

Lyases are a type of enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of various chemical bonds without the use of water. Lyases cleave bonds and form new ones through the process of elimination. Moreover, this process involves the elimination of water or the addition of groups of double bonds, or the formation of double bonds.

Compare Hydrolases and Lyases - What's the difference?

Furthermore, there are several types of lyases. They have specific functions and substrate specificity. One example of a type of lyases is aldolases. They catalyze the formation of carbon-carbon bonds by joining two carbonyl compounds. Another example of a type of lyase is decarboxylase. They are the lyases that remove carboxyl groups from amino acids and other organic acids. Some other examples of lyases include pectate lyase, hydroxy nitrile, isocitrate lyase, and alginate lyase.

These chemical compounds are present commonly in living organisms such as bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals. They are also important in drug development.

Difference Between Hydrolases and Lyases

Definition

Hydrolases are a type of enzyme that use water to break chemical bonds, while lyases are a type of enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of various chemical bonds without the use of water.

Role of Water

Hydrolases catalyze the hydrolysis of chemical bonds using water molecules, whereas lyases catalyze the cleavage of chemical bonds without the use of water molecules.

Examples

Examples of hydrolases are proteases and lipases, while examples of lyases are decarboxylases and aldolases.

Conclusion

In brief, enzymes are substances that catalyze reactions by regulating the rate at which the chemical reaction proceeds without being involved in the process. Hydrolases and lyases are two types of enzymes. The main difference between hydrolases and lyases is that hydrolases catalyze the hydrolysis of chemical bonds using water molecules, whereas lyases catalyze the cleavage of chemical bonds without the use of water molecules.

Reference:

1. “Lyase – Definiton and Examples.” Biology Online.
2. “Hydrolases: The Most Diverse Class of Enzymes.” IntechOpen.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Microsomal epoxide hydrolase” By J3D3 – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “AP lyase mechanism” By Nzube11 – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia 

About the Author: Hasini A

Hasini is a graduate of Applied Science with a strong background in forestry, environmental science, chemistry, and management science. She is an amateur photographer with a keen interest in exploring the wonders of nature and science.

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