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proteolysis

 
Dictionary: pro·te·ol·y·sis   (prō'tē-ŏl'ĭ-sĭs) pronunciation
 
n.

The hydrolytic breakdown of proteins into simpler, soluble substances such as peptides and amino acids, as occurs during digestion.


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Chemistry Dictionary: proteolysis
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The enzymic splitting of proteins. See protease.



 
Food and Nutrition: proteolysis
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The hydrolysis of proteins to their constituent amino acids, catalysed by alkali, acid, or enzymes.

 

Process in which a protein is broken down partially, into peptides, or completely, into amino acids, by proteolytic enzymes, present in bacteria and in plants but most abundant in animals. Proteins in food are attacked in the stomach by pepsin and in the small intestine mainly by trypsin and chymotrypsin from the pancreas. Proteolytic enzymes are secreted as zymogens, which are themselves converted by proteolysis to their active forms. Many other zymogens or precursors undergo proteolysis to form active enzymes or proteins (e.g., fibrinogen to fibrin). In cells, proteolytic degradation of old proteins is part of cellular maintenance.

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Veterinary Dictionary: proteolysis
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The splitting of proteins by hydrolysis of the peptide bonds, with formation of smaller polypeptides.

 
Wikipedia: Proteolysis
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Proteolysis is the directed degradation (digestion) of proteins by cellular enzymes called proteases or by intramolecular digestion.

Contents

Purposes

Proteolysis is used by the cell for several purposes. They include:

Proteolysis is also used in research and diagnostic applications:

Examples

Examples of serine proteases include:

Venoms

Certain types of venom, such as those produced by venomous snakes, can also cause proteolysis. These venoms are, in fact, complex digestive fluids that begin their work outside of the body. Proteolytic venoms cause a wide range of toxic effects[1], including effects that are:

See also

References

  1. ^ Hayes WK. 2005. Research on Biological Roles and Variation of Snake Venoms. Loma Linda University.

External links



 
 
Learn More
proteolysin (biochemistry)
proteo– (prefix)
meromyosin (biochemistry)

Are the digestive enzymes produced by the pancreas produced as inactive precursors or are they activated in the digestive tract by proteolysis? Read answer...
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Copyrights:

Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Chemistry Dictionary. A Dictionary of Chemistry. Sixth Edition. Copyright © Market House Books Ltd, 2008. All rights reserved.  Read more
Food and Nutrition. A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. Copyright © 1995, 2003, 2005 by A. E. Bender and D. A. Bender. All rights reserved.  Read more
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Proteolysis" Read more

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