synthetase

noun

syn·​the·​tase ˈsin-thə-ˌtās 

-ˌtāz

: an enzyme that catalyzes the linking together of two molecules usually using the energy derived from the concurrent splitting off of a pyrophosphate group from a triphosphate (such as ATP)

called also ligase

Examples of synthetase in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Following his birth in August 2024, KJ Muldoon was diagnosed with a rare metabolic disease known as severe carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1) deficiency, according to a Children's Hospital of Philadelphia news release. —Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 17 May 2025

The metabolic condition, called carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 1 deficiency, affects the urea cycle and can cause deadly levels of ammonia to build up in the blood, leading to severe and permanent brain damage. —Keerthana Pakanati, ABC News, 15 May 2025

For example, most viruses lack aminoacyl tRNA synthetase enzymes, which shuttle amino acids onto transfer RNA molecules; these in turn make their way to the ribosome, dropping off their cargo to build proteins from the chains of amino acids. —Jeffrey Marlow, Discover Magazine, 20 Apr. 2017

Word History

Etymology

synthetic + -ase

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for synthetase

• aerospace
• anatase
• anyplace
• commonplace
• cyberspace
• database
• diabase
• diastase
• dnase
• elastase
• fireplace
• hyperspace

Medical Definition

synthetase

noun

syn·​the·​tase ˈsin-thə-ˌtās, -ˌtāz 

: an enzyme that catalyzes the linking together of two molecules especially by using the energy derived from the concurrent splitting off of a pyrophosphate group from a triphosphate (as ATP)

called also ligase