aminopeptidase

8.9

A substance that helps break down proteins by removing amino acids from their start

noun
/əˌmɪnoʊˈpɛptɪdeɪs/

Specialized

: aminopeptidasa

Amino acids are removed from proteins by the enzyme aminopeptidase during digestion.

Examples

Unfortunately, treatment with omapatrilat inhibited not only ACE and neprilysin but also aminopeptidase P, which plays an important role in bradykinin degradation.

Academic text (2016)
Researchers studied how aminopeptidase affects the breakdown of peptides in the body.
The lab technician tested the activity of aminopeptidase in various protein samples.

Synonyms

protease

vsaminopeptidase

Specialized

7 7.7

An enzyme that breaks proteins into smaller pieces

is a specific enzyme that removes amino acids from the amino end

proteinase

vsaminopeptidase

Specialized

1 7.2

A substance in living things that breaks proteins into smaller parts

is a specific enzyme that removes amino acids from the amino end

proteolytic enzyme

vsaminopeptidase

Specialized

1 4.4

A substance that breaks proteins into smaller parts living things can use

is a specific enzyme that removes amino acids from the amino end

peptidase

vsaminopeptidase

Specialized

8.8

An enzyme that breaks proteins into smaller pieces called peptides and amino acids

is a specific enzyme that removes amino acids from the amino end

Surface Forms

aminopeptidase singular

aminopeptidases plural

Morphology

aminopeptidase = peptidase (semi-transparent) = amino + peptid + ase

Built from the combining form 'peptid-' plus the enzyme-forming suffix '-ase' with the 'amino-' specifier; these technical morphemes may not be known to average learners.

Etymology

Aminopeptidase breaks into amino- ('amino acid') and peptidase from peptide ('small protein') plus the enzyme ending -ase. That -ase also appears in lipase and amylase, so aminopeptidase is an enzyme that removes amino acids from the 'start' or 'amino end' of a protein, which explains its modern meaning.