proteinase

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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.

an enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of peptide bonds more readily in an intact protein than in small peptides. Endopeptidase is now recommended.

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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.