The human recombinant form of PGPEP-1 is typically produced in E. coli and consists of a single, non-glycosylated polypeptide chain containing 232 amino acids . The recombinant enzyme is often tagged with a histidine tag to facilitate purification and detection . The molecular mass of the recombinant enzyme is approximately 24-26 kDa .
PGPEP-1 is responsible for cleaving amino terminal pyroglutamate residues from protein substrates, including neuropeptides such as thyrotropin-releasing hormone . This activity is essential for the proper functioning and regulation of various biological processes. The enzyme requires a thiol-reducing agent for its activity, which helps maintain the cysteine residues in their reduced state .
The expression and activity of PGPEP-1 have been studied in the context of various diseases. For instance, its expression may be downregulated in colorectal cancer, and its activity is negatively correlated with cancer progression in colorectal cancer patients . This suggests that PGPEP-1 could potentially serve as a biomarker for certain types of cancer.