# dehydrogenase

CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dehydrogenase
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

an enzyme that helps remove hydrogen from a molecule during a chemical reaction. These enzymes are very important for your body to produce energy from food.

For teachers: an enzyme that catalyses the removal of hydrogen from a substrate. Often involved in the oxidation of organic compounds to produce energy in metabolic pathways.

## Examples

- The body uses dehydrogenase to break down sugar.
- In the mitochondria, dehydrogenase plays a key role in the electron transport chain by transferring hydrogen ions.
- The specific activity of the dehydrogenase enzyme is a critical indicator of the metabolic health of the cell, as it determines the rate at which hydrogen is removed from the substrate.

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