Index >> Enzymes,Isozymes and Coenzymes >> Nomenclature of Enzymes

Nomenclature of Enzymes - Enzymes are generally named by adding '-ase' to the root indicating the substrate on which the enzyme acts.

Thus fumarase catalyses the conversion of fumaric acid to malic acid. The International Union of Biochemistry Report of 1962 (revised in 1964) contains a scheme for the classification of enzymes.

Enzymes have been divided into 6 groups, oxidoreductases, transferases, hydrolases, lyases, isomerases and ligases (synthetases)