What class of enzymes cleaves bonds on molecules using water?

• A. Transferase
• B. Hydrolase
• C. Oxidoreductase
• D. Ligase

Answer: (B)

The correct answer is hydrolase, which is a class of enzymes that catalyzes the cleavage of chemical bonds through the addition of water, a process known as hydrolysis. These enzymes are crucial in various biological processes, including digestion, where they break down complex substrates into simpler molecules by incorporating water to break covalent bonds.

Hydrolases can act on a wide range of substrates, such as proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates. For example, proteases (a subclass of hydrolases) cleave peptide bonds in proteins, while lipases hydrolyze ester bonds in lipids. By facilitating the addition of water to these bonds, hydrolases play a vital role in metabolic pathways and the overall maintenance of cellular function.

In contrast, transferases are enzymes that transfer functional groups from one molecule to another but do not cleave bonds using water. Oxidoreductases are involved in oxidation-reduction reactions, where they facilitate the transfer of electrons between molecules, and ligases catalyze the joining of two molecules by forming new covalent bonds, typically through the consumption of ATP, but not through the action of water.