Peptidase

Peptidase (also known as a protease, proteinase, or proteolytic enzyme) is an enzyme that performs proteolysis, which is a process that breaks down proteins into smaller peptides or amino acids. This is a crucial process in biological systems, as it controls a variety of physiological and cellular processes.

Function

Peptidases are involved in numerous biological processes, including digestion, immune response, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis. They are also involved in the processing of proteins for secretion or function. Peptidases can be found in all living organisms, from viruses to humans.

Classification

Peptidases can be classified based on their catalytic mechanism. There are six main classes: serine, cysteine, aspartic, metallo, glutamic, and threonine peptidases.

Clinical significance

Peptidases have significant clinical relevance. They are involved in many diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and infectious diseases. Therefore, they are often targets for therapeutic intervention.

See also

• Protease
• Enzyme
• Protein
• Amino acid

References

Peptidase Resources
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