: any of numerous enzymes that hydrolyze proteins and are classified according to the most prominent functional group (such as serine or cysteine) at the active site
called alsoproteinase
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebThis resistance, in addition to new mutations, is likely related to sensitivity to a membrane protease, TMPRSS2, that is associated with cell membrane infectivity. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 11 July 2022 Paxlovid blocks the virus’ enzyme protease, whereas VV116 and remdesivir inhibit the enzyme RNA polymerase. Mary Hui, Quartz, 6 July 2022 Numerous viruses have difficulty shifting their protease to evade medicinal threats. Jason Mast, STAT, 29 May 2022 Researchers designed the pill to stop the coronavirus from spreading in people by blocking activity of a key enzyme, known as protease, which the virus needs to replicate. Joseph Walker, WSJ, 22 Dec. 2021 Allerton’s team had a starting molecule, and began trying to make other molecules that would affect the same protease enzyme. Matthew Herper, STAT, 28 Apr. 2022 Once assembled, the inflammasome activates a protease called caspase-1. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 21 Apr. 2022 Paxlovid is a made up of two protease inhibitors, including one used in treating HIV as a booster medicine. Patrick Jackson, The Conversation, 28 Apr. 2022 That’s one reason that, from the start, the team planned to combine their medicine with ritonavir, which is commonly used with protease inhibitors to treat HIV to increase blood levels of drug. Matthew Herper, STAT, 28 Apr. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from French protéase, from protéine protein + -ase-ase
Note: The French term was probably introduced by the Italian microbiologist and philosopher Giovanni Malfitano (1872-1941) in "Sur le protéase de l'Aspergillus niger," Annales de l'Institut Pasteur, tome quatorzième (1900), p. 420. The term protease was used in English without attribution to Malfitano and perhaps coined independently by the British botanist Sydney Howard Vines (1849-1934) in "Proteolytic Enzymes in Plants," Annals of Botany, vol. 17, no. 65 (January, 1903), p. 237.