protease

(noun)

An enzyme that cuts or cleaves proteins.

Related Terms

Examples of protease in the following topics:

  • Epidermal Wound Healing

    • They also cleanse the wound by secreting proteases that break down damaged tissue or free radicals that kill bacteria (respiratory burst).
    • Macrophages replace PMNs at the wound site and continue to phagocytize bacteria and damaged tissue, or destroy damaged tissue by releasing proteases.
    • They also debride damaged tissue by releasing proteases.

  • Role of the Complement System in Immunity

    • When stimulated by one of several triggers, proteases in the system cleave specific proteins to release cytokines and initiate an amplifying cascade of further cleavages.
    • C1 acts a protease and cleaves C2 and C4 to form C4b2b.
    • Proteases bound on the other side of the MBL cleaves C4 into C4a and C4b.

  • Coagulation

    • The coagulation factors are generally serine proteases (enzymes).
    • Protein C: a vitamin K-dependent serine protease enzyme that degrades Factor V and factor VIII.
    • Antithrombin: a serine protease inhibitor that degrades thrombin, Factor IXa, Factor Xa, Factor XIa, and Factor XIIa.

  • Anatomy of the Digestive System

    • Stomach: secretes protein-digesting enzymes called proteases and strong acids to aid in food digestion, before sending partially digested food to the small intestines.

  • Formation, Storage, and Release of Thyroid Hormones

    • Proteases digest iodinated thyroglobulin, releasing the hormones T4 and T3, the biologically-active agents central to metabolic regulation.

  • WBC Function

    • Pathogens that bear the T cell's antigen are destroyed through cytotoxic induced apoptosis and protease activity.

  • Anticoagulants

    • Hementin is an anticoagulant protease from the salivary glands of Haementeria ghilianii, the Giant Amazon Leech.

  • Types of Adaptive Immunity

    • Then T-cell produced proteases can enter the pathogen and induce an apotosis response within the cell.

  • Proteins: Sources, Uses in the Body, and Dietary Requirements

    • Ingested proteins are then broken down into amino acids through digestion, which typically involves denaturation of the protein through exposure to acid and hydrolysis by enzymes called proteases.

  • Nonrespiratory Air Movements

    • Protease: Secreted from lung macrophages and neutrophils during inflammatory response to damage pathogens.