Proteinase
Proteinase
Proteinase (pronounced pro-tee-nayz), also known as a protease or peptidase, is a type of enzyme that performs proteolysis. Proteolysis is the breakdown of proteins into smaller polypeptides or amino acids.
Etymology
The term "proteinase" is derived from the words "protein" and "-ase". The suffix "-ase" is used in biochemistry to form names of enzymes. The word "protein" comes from the Greek word "proteios", meaning "primary" or "in the lead".
Function
Proteinases play a key role in many biological functions, including digestion, immune response, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis. They are involved in the process of breaking down dietary proteins into their constituent peptides and amino acids, which are then used by the body for various purposes.
Types
There are several types of proteinases, classified based on their mechanism of action. These include:
- Serine proteinases
- Cysteine proteinases
- Aspartic proteinases
- Metalloproteinases
- Threonine proteinases
Each of these types of proteinases has a different active site and mechanism of action.
Related Terms
- Enzyme: A substance produced by a living organism that acts as a catalyst to bring about a specific biochemical reaction.
- Protein: A molecule composed of polymers of amino acids joined together by peptide bonds.
- Amino Acid: Organic compounds that combine to form proteins.
- Polypeptide: A single linear chain of amino acids in a protein.
- Apoptosis: The death of cells as a normal and controlled part of an organism's growth or development.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Proteinase
- Wikipedia's article - Proteinase
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