proteinase

n.
An endopeptidase, such as pepsin, trypsin, or papain.

Enzymes that hydrolyse proteins, also known as peptidases and proteases. See also endopeptidases; exopeptidases.

(prōt'n-ās', -āz', prō'tē-nās', -nāz')
n.

A protease that begins the hydrolytic breakdown of proteins usually by splitting them into polypeptide chains.

Any enzyme that catalyzes the splitting of interior peptide bonds in a protein; an endopeptidase.

• p. resistant protein (prp) — a protein which resists digestion by proteinases; the amyloid fibrils in brain tissue of sheep affected with scrapie contain such a prp.

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: any enzyme that catalyzes the splitting of proteins into smaller peptide fractions and amino acids by a process known as proteolysis
  Synonyms: protease, peptidase, proteolytic enzyme

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