German coinage from Greek en (in) and zyme (yeast/leaven) — literally the active substance inside yeast
A protein that acts as a biological catalyst, speeding up chemical reactions in living organisms
Coined by German physiologist Wilhelm Kuhne from Greek 'en' (in) and 'zyme' (leaven, yeast). Kuhne introduced the term to distinguish biological catalysts from the living organisms (yeast) that produce them. Previously, the word ferment was used for both the organism and the substance. The Greek root 'zyme' relates to fermentation and brewing, connecting enzyme to some of humanity's oldest biotechnology. Key roots: en (Greek: "in, within