Author: Lazure, C.

Source: Current Pharmaceutical Design, Volume 8, Number 7, 1 March 2002 , pp. 511-531(21)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

Since the initial description of a peptidase activity, namely pepsin, in the middle of the 19th century, our understanding of the molecular basis of peptidase function and activation has greatly improved. Further, by sequencing entire genomes, we have reached a stage whereby it is now possible to appreciate the tremendous diversity and unique specificities of peptidases. Because of their importance in most if not all vital processes of the cell including ultimately its death, their activities must be carefully localized and kept under tight control. In addition to endogenous inhibitors, control of enzymatic activity can be achieved through their synthesis and transport as inactive zymogens. This review article will focus on the characteristics as well as the role of the proregion contained within the peptidase zymogen structure. It will survey novel zymogen structures determined in the past 5 years as well as those of selected emerging peptidase families for which there exists as yet no or little structural data. These include members belonging to the caspase, ADAMS, TTSP, MMP, Aspartyl peptidases and convertase families.

Keywords: peptidase; peptidases; prosubtilisin; cysteine peptidases; aspartic peptidases; serine peptidases; zinc-metallopeptidases; peptidases; serine proteases; serine peptidases

Document Type: Review article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612023395691

Publication date: 2002-03-01

More about this publication?

• Current Pharmaceutical Design publishes timely in-depth reviews covering all aspects of current research in rational drug design. Each issue is devoted to a single major therapeutic area. A Guest Editor who is an acknowledged authority in a therapeutic field has solicits for each issue comprehensive and timely reviews from leading researchers in the pharmaceutical industry and academia.
  
  Each thematic issue of Current Pharmaceutical Design covers all subject areas of major importance to modern drug design, including: medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, drug targets and disease mechanism.

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