Hydrases belong to the larger class of enzymes known as lyases, which cleave bonds by means other than hydrolysis or oxidation. Specifically, hydrases catalyze the addition of water to a double bond, resulting in the formation of an alcohol or a similar compound. Conversely, some hydrases can also remove water from a substrate, converting it into an unsaturated compound. This dual functionality makes hydrases incredibly versatile in both natural and synthetic processes.
