Chymotrypsinogen B2 (CTRB2)

Chymotrypsinogen B2 is a protein precursor encoded by the CTRB2 gene and belongs to the serine protease family of enzymes. It is synthesized in the pancreas as an inactive zymogen (proenzyme), secreted into the small intestine, and then activated via proteolytic cleavage to form the active enzyme chymotrypsin B2. The enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of peptide bonds, particularly after aromatic amino acids, playing a key role in dietary protein digestion. Chymotrypsinogen B2 shows serine-type endopeptidase activity, and its major role is the digestion of proteins in the gastrointestinal system. Genetic variations in CTRB2 are linked to differential risk for chronic pancreatitis and possibly certain pancreatic cancers. This gene is closely related to CTRB1, and specific genomic inversions involving CTRB2 and CTRB1 alter disease risk and expression. Certain haplotypes involving this gene and its paralog CTRB1 are associated with increased risk for chronic pancreatitis. No direct drug modulators or clinical inhibitors are well-established; it is primarily a physiological, not pharmacological, enzyme target at this time.

Other names

Chymotrypsinogen B2Chymotrypsin B2 chain AChymotrypsin B2 chain BChymotrypsin B2 chain Cchymotrypsin B2CTRB2

Proteolytic cleavage of peptide bonds (preferentially after aromatic residues such as tyrosine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine)