peptidase Biochem.
(ˈpɛptɪdeɪz, -s)
[f. peptide + -ase.]
Orig., an enzyme which hydrolyses peptides; now usu. restricted to enzymes (exopeptidases) which hydrolyse the terminal peptide bonds of peptides, liberating amino-acids.
| 1918 Jrnl. Infectious Dis. XXII. 148 Normal human serum contains peptidase and maintains a relatively uniform titer. 1923 Jrnl. Chem. Soc. CXXIV. i. 496 The proteases can be provisionally classified as follows. A. True proteases which break down protein to the peptide stage... B. Peptidases or ereptases which only split peptides or peptones. 1936 [see endopeptidase s.v. endo-]. 1958 Dixon & Webb Enzymes v. 228 By no means all peptide links are hydrolysed by all peptidases. 1970 R. W. McGilvery Biochem. xv. 307 They [sc. lysosomes] are particulate structures in the cell..loaded with a battery of hydrolytic enzymes: peptidases to attack proteins, esterases to attack lipids, [etc.]. Ibid. xxvii. 658 Exopeptidases, sometimes simply called peptidases without a clarifying prefix,..attack terminal peptide bonds. |