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Proteases (Peptidases)
Peptidases
The proteolytic enzymes that break peptide bonds.
  • We draw an oligopeptide.
  • We draw the N-terminal amino acid and specify its chemical makeup
— We see that the carboxyl loses an hydroxyl to bond to the adjacent amino acid.
  • We draw the C-terminal amino acid and specify its chemical makeup
— We see that the amino group loses a Hydrogen to bond to its adjacent amino acid. — The -OH and H+ together for a single molecule of water, so let's learn how proteases act via hydrolysis, the addition of water to break peptide bonds.
  • Hydrolases catalyze the breakage of bonds via the addition of a water molecule (we show this via a simple graphic).
  • Proteases (aka peptidases) are a subset of hydrolases that specifically hydrolyze peptide bonds.
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Proteases (Peptidases)

Proteases/Peptidases
  • Proteases (aka peptidases) catalyze peptide bond cleavage via hydrolysis (addition of a H20).
    • Note that originally the term protease carried a slightly broader definition: any enzyme involved in protein degradation (and didn't specify the mechanism) whereas the term peptidase bore a narrower definition: an enzyme that performs peptide bond hydrolysis. But now we use these terms interchangeably.
  • Most digestive enzymes are synthesized as zymogens (in an inactive form) and are activated as needed by physiological conditions (such as pH), self-cleavage, or cleavage by other proteins.

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