Prolyl Endopeptidase is a large enzyme with a molecular mass of approximately 81 kDa . It cleaves peptide bonds at the C-terminal side of proline residues within peptides that are up to approximately 30 amino acids long . The enzyme’s activity is confined to oligopeptides of less than 10 kDa and requires the trans-configuration of the peptide bond preceding proline .
The enzyme’s structure includes a distinct beta-propeller region that acts as a gating filter mechanism, allowing only short protein residues to enter the active site . This specificity enables Prolyl Endopeptidase to hydrolyze a variety of biologically active peptides such as bradykinin, substance P, neurotensin, and vasopressin .
Prolyl Endopeptidase is involved in several critical biological processes, including the maturation and degradation of peptide hormones and neuropeptides . Some of the key peptides hydrolyzed by this enzyme include:
Recombinant Human Prolyl Endopeptidase is produced using baculovirus expression systems in insect cells (Spodoptera frugiperda, Sf 21) . The recombinant enzyme is typically tagged with a 6-His tag for purification purposes and is supplied as a carrier-free formulation to avoid interference from other proteins .
Recombinant Prolyl Endopeptidase is widely used in biochemical research to study its role in peptide hormone regulation and neuropeptide degradation. It is also utilized in drug development to explore potential therapeutic targets for conditions related to peptide hormone imbalances and neurodegenerative diseases .