OXIDOREDUCTASE

any member of a class of enzymes, commonly known as dehydrogenases or oxidases, that catalyze the removal of hydrogen atoms and electrons from the compounds on which they act. Substances called coenzymes, associated with the oxidoreductase enzymes and necessary for their activity, accept the hydrogen and electrons, whichin metabolic systems of animalseventually are transferred to oxygen. Other enzymes of this group catalyze such reactions as the oxidation of aldehydes and ketones to carboxylic acids and the dehydrogenation of amino acids.