Acetylator

/əˈsiːtɪleɪtər/ noun

Definition

An enzyme or chemical catalyst that performs acetylation by adding acetyl groups to other molecules; also a person who carries out acetylation.

Etymology

From acetylate + -or (noun-forming suffix for agents or performers). Used in both biochemistry (for enzymes like N-acetyltransferases) and chemistry (for catalytic substances).

Kelly Says

People vary dramatically in how fast their liver's acetylator enzymes work—some are 'slow acetylators' and others 'fast acetylators'—meaning they metabolize certain drugs at different speeds, which is why the same medicine can cause side effects in some people but not others.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.