Meaning & use
peptidase
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountabletechnicalbiologychemistry
An enzyme that cuts proteins into smaller pieces called peptides or single amino acids.
Grammar: Countable noun: a peptidase, several peptidases.
Patterns
- a peptidase breaks down something
- act as a peptidase
Peptidases in the stomach help digest the protein in food.
This peptidase specifically cleaves the bond between two amino acids.
Researchers studied how the peptidase functions under different conditions.
Word forms
| plural | peptidases |
|---|
Common combinations
- digestive peptidase
- Digestive peptidases are essential for breaking down proteins.
- peptidase activity
- The scientist measured the peptidase activity in the sample.
- inhibit a peptidase
- Certain drugs can inhibit a peptidase and affect protein breakdown.
Synonyms and how they differ
- protease
- A broader term for enzymes that break down proteins; peptidase is more specific to breaking peptide bonds.
- proteinase
- Similar to protease; often used interchangeably but may act on whole proteins.
Word family
- peptide noun
- A short chain of amino acids.
- peptidic adjective
- Relating to peptides.
Commonly confused: peptidase or peptide?
peptidase vs peptide
A peptide is the chain of amino acids; a peptidase is the enzyme that breaks it.
Practice
What is the main function of a peptidase?
Choose one answer.
A peptidase breaks down proteins. Building proteins is the job of other enzymes, and the other options describe different biological roles.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “peptidase”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.