Hydrolyysit

Hydrolyysit refer to hydrolysis processes and the enzymes that catalyse them. In chemistry and biology, a hydrolysis reaction involves the cleavage of chemical bonds by adding water, yielding smaller molecules. Hydrolysis can be acid- or base-catalyzed, or achieved by specialized enzymes known as hydrolases.

Chemical hydrolysis typically requires water as reactant and may be accelerated by acidic or basic conditions. Common examples include the acid hydrolysis of esters and glycosidic bonds, and the base-catalyzed saponification of fats.

Enzymatic hydrolysis is carried out by hydrolases, a broad enzyme class (EC 3). Examples include proteases (protein cleavage), amylases (starch breakdown), lipases (fats), nucleases (nucleic acids), and glycosidases (carbohydrates). In cells, lysosomal hydrolases degrade macromolecules; digestion and metabolism rely on hydrolysis reactions to obtain usable smaller units.

Industrial and laboratory applications include production of simple sugars from starch, hydrolysis of esters, and analysis of polymer composition. The term emphasizes water as a reactant and bond-cleaving reaction, and it encompasses both chemical and enzymatic pathways.