Earliest known enzyme was

Options

A. sucrase
B. zymases
C. diastase
D. ureases

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Question**: The question asks for the earliest known enzyme among the options provided: sucrase, zymase, diastase, or ureases.

2. **Historical Context**: To answer this question, we need to look at the historical discoveries related to enzymes. Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in living organisms.

3. **Identifying Key Information**: In 1835, a scientist named Jacob Berzelius identified an extract from malt that was capable of catalyzing the hydrolysis of starch. This extract was named diastase.

4. **Comparison with Other Options**:
- **Sucrase**: An enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of sucrose.
- **Zymase**: A complex of enzymes involved in fermentation.
- **Ureases**: Enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of urea.

5. **Conclusion**: Since diastase was recognized as the first enzyme that could catalyze a reaction more efficiently than sulfuric acid, it is considered the earliest known enzyme.

**Final Answer**: The earliest known enzyme was diastase.

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