Glycosylases ( EC 3.2) are

enzyme Enzymes () are proteins that act as biological catalysts by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecules known as products ...

s that hydrolyze

glycosyl A glycosyl group is a univalent free radical or substituent structure obtained by removing the hemiacetal hydroxyl group from the cyclic form of a monosaccharide and, by extension, of a lower oligosaccharide. Glycosyl also reacts with inorganic a ...

compounds. They are a type of

hydrolase Hydrolase is a class of enzyme that commonly perform as biochemical catalysts that use water to break a chemical bond, which typically results in dividing a larger molecule into smaller molecules. Some common examples of hydrolase enzymes are este ...

(EC 3). In turn, glycosylases are divided into two groups:

glycosidase Glycoside hydrolases (also called glycosidases or glycosyl hydrolases) catalyze the hydrolysis of glycosidic bonds in complex sugars. They are extremely common enzymes with roles in nature including degradation of biomass such as cellulose (c ...

s—enzymes that hydrolyze O- and S-glycosyl compounds (EC 3.2.1) -- and enzymes that hydrolyze N-glycosyl compounds (EC 3.2.2).

References

{{Portal bar, Biology, border=no EC 3.2 Enzymes