CYSTEINE PROTEINASE Meaning and
Definition
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Cysteine proteinase refers to a group of enzymes classified as proteases that have cysteine in their active site. Proteases are enzymes that break down proteins by cleaving the peptide bonds between amino acids. Cysteine proteinases play a crucial role in various biological processes, including protein degradation, cellular remodeling, and the regulation of protein activity.
These enzymes possess and utilize a cysteine residue within their active site to perform their catalytic function. This cysteine residue acts as a nucleophile, attacking the peptide bond and forming a covalent intermediate with the substrate. Through a series of subsequent steps, the peptide bond is cleaved, and the protein is broken down into smaller peptide fragments.
Cysteine proteinases are found in various organisms, including animals, plants, and microorganisms. They are commonly involved in physiological processes such as digestion, immune response, tissue repair, and cellular turnover. Additionally, they are implicated in several pathological conditions, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and microbial infections.
These enzymes exhibit unique characteristics, such as pH optimum, substrate specificity, and regulation, enabling them to perform specific functions within different cellular environments. Their activities can be tightly regulated through mechanisms such as post-translational modifications, inhibitors, cofactors, or localization to specific subcellular compartments.
Due to their involvement in numerous biological processes and their potential as therapeutic targets, cysteine proteinases have gained significant attention in biomedical research and drug development. Studying their structure, function, and regulation provides insights into their biological roles and offers opportunities for the development of new therapies and treatments.
Common Misspellings for CYSTEINE PROTEINASE
- xysteine proteinase
- vysteine proteinase
- fysteine proteinase
- dysteine proteinase
- ctsteine proteinase
- cgsteine proteinase
- chsteine proteinase
- custeine proteinase
- c7steine proteinase
- c6steine proteinase
- cyateine proteinase
- cyzteine proteinase
- cyxteine proteinase
- cydteine proteinase
- cyeteine proteinase
- cywteine proteinase
- cysreine proteinase
- cysfeine proteinase
- cysgeine proteinase
- cysyeine proteinase
Etymology of CYSTEINE PROTEINASE
The word "cysteine proteinase" is derived from two main components: "cysteine" and "proteinase".
1. Cysteine: The term "cysteine" refers to an amino acid that contains a thiol group (-SH) in its side chain. It is an essential amino acid involved in protein synthesis and various biochemical processes. The word "cysteine" originates from the Latin word "cysteinum", which is derived from the Greek word "kustis", meaning bladder or cyst, as this amino acid was first identified in bladder stones.
2. Proteinase: The term "proteinase" refers to an enzyme that breaks down proteins by hydrolyzing their peptide bonds. It is composed of two parts: "protein" and the suffix "-ase".
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