Acid protease

Acid proteases are a class of enzymes that hydrolyze peptide bonds within proteins, functioning optimally at acidic pH, such as in the stomach (e.g., pepsin). They are crucial for the digestion and metabolism of dietary proteins in animals, and also participate in diverse cellular processes such as cell signaling, apoptosis, and immune regulation. Acid proteases are typically classified as endopeptidases due to their mode of action on internal peptide bonds. Dysfunction or aberrant activity of proteases is implicated in various diseases, making them important therapeutic targets and diagnostic markers in infection, cancer, inflammation, and other conditions. Drugs targeting proteases include inhibitory molecules used in treating specific diseases, and protease-activated prodrugs designed for selective activation in pathological tissues.

Other names

Acid proteaseProteolytic enzyme (general class)Pepsin (specific example)Proteinase (general)

Competitive inhibition of protease active site; Irreversible inhibition by covalent modification; Protease-activated prodrugs: drugs activated by proteolytic cleavage at disease sites