Key Characteristics of Lyases:

• Lyases catalyze reactions in which chemical groups are either added to a substrate or removed from it, resulting in the creation of new bonds and alterations in the structure of the molecule. 
• Lyases play crucial roles in various metabolic pathways including the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, contributing to processes essential for intermediary metabolism and energy production. 
• Many lyases catalyze condensation or dehydration reactions in which they eliminate water molecules while breaking or forming breaking chemical bonds.
• Lyases function independently of water molecules, unlike hydrolases, which depend on the presence of water in their catalytic process.
• Lyases may utilize coenzymes such as pyridoxal phosphate to aid in their catalytic functions.