Carboxypeptidases
Term
These are exopeptidases that cleave one amino acid from the peptide carboxy-end. Their optimal pH is around 8, and their activity requires zinc ions. These peptidases in the pancreas are synthesized as inactive procarboxypeptidases A and B. Trypsin in the duodenum activates them into carboxypeptidases A and B. Carboxypeptidase A (EC 3.4.17.1) cleaves aliphatic amino acids (Val, Leu, Ile, and Ala) from the peptide carboxy-end, while carboxypeptidase B (EC 3.4.17.2) cleaves basic diamino acids (Arg and Lys).
Source | Glossary of Most Commonly Used Biomedical Terms and Concepts | Lithuanian University of Health Sciences | Academician Professor Antanas Praškevičius, Professor Laima Ivanovienė