desaturase

D2E1S1A1T1U1R1A1S1E1
UK/diːˈsætʃəɹeɪz/UK/diːˈsætjəɹeɪz/

noun

Any enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of single to double bonds, especially in the production of essential fatty acids.

OriginEnglish diastase ← Ancient Greek δῐᾰ́στᾰσῐς (dĭắstăsĭs) →
UncommonScrabble 11
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

noundesaturase (plural desaturases)

plural desaturases

  1. biochemistryAny enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of single to double bonds, especially in the production of essential fatty acids.

Origin

  1. Englishdesaturate
  2. Ancient Greekδῐῐ̈́στημῐ (dĭĭ̈́stēmĭ)
  3. Ancient Greekδῐᾰ́στᾰσῐς (dĭắstăsĭs)
  4. Englishdiastase
  5. Englishdesaturase

From desaturate + -ase.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

desaturase. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/desaturase

MLA

“desaturase.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/desaturase. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “desaturase,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/desaturase.

Source: desaturase on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.