Hydrolysis

Hydrolysis is the name of a chemical reaction in which a bond is broken using a water molecule. This frequently occurs in nature and it is a key reason why water is so important in biology. One example of this reaction is the chemical cleavage of ATP. This reaction is carried out by a whole range of ATPase enzymes including myosin and the signalling enzymes known as kinases.

 

Return to:
An historical look at muscle contraction