peptidase
Breaks protein bonds
Peptidase is an enzyme that breaks down proteins by cleaving the bonds between amino acids.
The term is interchangeable with protease in most contexts: Digestive peptidases help the body absorb nutrients from food.
Different peptidases target different parts of protein chains—some cut at the ends, others in the middle.
Enzyme region binding substrates
- substrateUnderlying supporting material
- specificityExactness of detail
- cleavageTendency to split cleanly
- hydrolysisWater-induced bond cleavage
mechanism · cofactor · activation · inhibition · kinetics · affinity · Michaelis-Menten · turnover
Protein-cleaving enzyme
Enzymatic protein breakdown
- amino acidsOrganic compounds forming proteins
- dipeptideTwo linked amino acids
- pepsinGastric protein-cleaving enzyme
- trypsinPancreatic digestive protease
Metabolic molecular dismantling
- degradationDecline in condition
- lysosomeDigestive organelle in cells
- autophagyCellular self-degradation process
- processingSystematic operation on data
active site
Enzyme region binding substrates
- substrateUnderlying supporting material
- specificityExactness of detail
- cleavageTendency to split cleanly
hydrolysis · mechanism · cofactor · activation · inhibition · kinetics · affinity · Michaelis-Menten · turnover · product release
protease
Protein-cleaving enzyme
proteolysis
Enzymatic protein breakdown
- amino acidsOrganic compounds forming proteins
- dipeptideTwo linked amino acids
- pepsinGastric protein-cleaving enzyme
trypsin · absorption · dietary protein · gastric juice · duodenum
catabolism
Metabolic molecular dismantling
- degradationDecline in condition
- lysosomeDigestive organelle in cells
- autophagyCellular self-degradation process