Question

The suffix –ase to enzyme names was proposed by
A) Duclaux
B) Buchner
C) Northrop
D) Pasteur

Answer 1

Hint: Enzymes were named by adding “-ase” suffix to the name of substrate considering the characteristic of enzyme that it reacts only with a specific substrate to catalyze a particular reaction.

Complete step-by-step answer:
Hans Buchner discovered that carbohydrate fermentation is not carried out by the yeast cell itself but with the help of enzymes present in the yeast. He also showed that breakdown of sugar into carbon dioxide and alcohol can be carried out by extracting zymase enzymes from the yeast cell.
Pasteur recognized that fermentation can occur in wine with the help of certain microbes like yeasts which have got a capacity to cause fermentation in wine. However, John Northrop isolated and then crystallized the enzyme pepsin.
Duclaux proposed the suffix –ase in1898. The suffix "-ase" indicates an enzyme. In the procedure of naming an enzyme, suffix "-ase" is added after the name of the substrate specific to an enzyme. This identifies the class of an enzyme catalyzing a specific reaction.

So, the correct answer is option “A” that suffix -ase is proposed by Duclaux.

Note: Enzyme is a substance that acts as a biocatalyst in living individuals. In a living cell, these enzymes are known to activate a variety of biochemical reactions in a very specific and accurate manner. It regulates the rate of chemical reactions without itself being consumed in the course. As per the recent classification system, enzymes are now named depending upon the type of reaction it catalyzes. It includes six major categories: oxidoreductases, transferases, hydrolases, lyases, isomerases and ligases.