kärˈbäksəˌlās noun
( -s )
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary carboxyl + -ase
: an enzyme of either of two groups that catalyze decarboxylation or carboxylation:
a. : any enzyme that accelerates the removal of carbon dioxide from a carboxyl group especially in alpha-keto acids ; specifically : an enzyme first recognized in yeast that converts pyruvic acid to acetaldehyde and carbon dioxide in living cells and in alcoholic fermentation — see cocarboxylase
b. : any enzyme that accelerates the addition of carbon dioxide to form a carboxyl group (as in the conversion of pyruvic acid to oxalacetic acid) — usually distinguished from decarboxylase