1. An enzyme that catalyzes the breaking of chemical bonds by means other than hydrolysis or oxidation, often producing a double bond or a new ring structure.
Usage: technical; biochemistry

Examples

• Decarboxylase is a type of lyase that removes carbon dioxide from organic molecules.
• The enzyme aldolase is a lyase that breaks down fructose-1,6-bisphosphate in glycolysis.
• Lyases play a crucial role in metabolic pathways by catalyzing non-hydrolytic bond cleavage.
• ATP citrate lyase is an important lyase involved in fatty acid synthesis.
• Unlike hydrolases, a lyase does not require water to break chemical bonds.