Chapter 19, Problem 19.98QP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

Structural features that account for different specificities of trypsin, chymotrypsin, and elastase have to be determined.

Concept Introduction:

Proteolytic enzymes are classified on the basis of the substrate specificity. For example, the trypsin cleaves specifically at the carboxyl end of positively charged amino acids such as arginine or lysine except for the cases when they are followed by amino acid proline. Chymotrypsin cleaves at the carboxyl-terminal of aromatic amino acids such as phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan. Elastase cleaves at the carboxyl-terminal of valine, alanine, and glycine.