EC 1 Introduction Enzyme Nomenclature EC 1 Introduction EC 1. Oxidoreductases To this class belong all enzymes catalysing oxido-reductions. The substrate oxidized is regarded as hydrogen or electron donor. Oxidase' is used only where O 2 is an acceptor.
Classification is difficult in some cases, because of the lack of specificity towards the acceptor.
This subclass contains all dehydrogenases acting on primary alcohols, secondary alcohols and hemi-acetals. Oxo groups may be oxidized either with addition of water and cleavage of a carbon-carbon bond or, in the case of ring compounds, by addition of the elements of water and dehydrogenation. These are the amino-acid dehydrogenases and the amine oxidases. In most cases, the imine formed is hydrolysed to give an oxo-group and NH 3 . In some cases, this is later hydrolysed.