GLOSSARY

GTPase hydrolyzes GTP with regulatory or functional roles.

Official enzyme classification is reaction-based and includes oxidoreductases, transferases, hydrolases, lyases, isomerases, ligases and translocases. A common name does not necessarily specify every reaction detail or protein identity. Precise work also requires substrate, product, tissue and isoform information. These classes describe kinds of work rather than ranking enzymes by importance or potency for exercise, so classification alone cannot prescribe a nutritional intervention.

Name endings provide clues but cannot replace checking the reaction. Synthase can name synthetic activity across classes, so the shortcut that synthases never involve ATP is unreliable. Traditional synthetase usage is restricted to ligases coupled to nucleotide-triphosphate cleavage. Historical names, recommended names and classification assignments can differ; the actual catalyzed reaction is the reference for interpretation rather than a spelling rule alone.

An enzyme accelerates a reaction by lowering its activation barrier, without changing the final equilibrium or reaction free-energy difference. It is not consumed overall during a catalytic cycle, although it can be degraded or inactivated. Most enzymes are proteins, but catalytic RNA also exists. More enzyme increases reaction rate only when other constraints allow it; substrate supply, products and conditions still matter.