Enteropeptidase

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Enteropeptidase

Crystal structure of Enteropeptidase with an inhibitor
Gene code:
Structure:
Recent publications:
protein type: Serine protease
Functions: digestion
Domains: serine protease domain
Diseases:

Enteropeptidase (previously also enterokinase) is a serine protease enzyme (EC 3.4.21.9) secreted by intestinal gland cells in the crypts of Lieberkühn in the small intestine. Enteropeptidase is a part of the Chymotrypsin-clan of serine proteases, and is structurally similar to these proteins. Enteropeptidase activates trypsinogen, a zymogen, to trypsin, indirectly activating a number of pancreatic digestive enzymes.

Contents

[edit] Reaction

The reaction catalysed by Enteropeptidase:

trypsinogen → trypsin + octapeptide

[edit] Nomenclature

Despite its older name of enterokinase, the enzyme is not a kinase, since it activates its substrate by cleavage and not phosphorylation.

[edit] Genetics

Enteropeptidase is encoded by the PRSS7 (serine protease-7 gene) or ENTK gene on the 21st chromosome (21q21).

Isolated cases of enterokinase deficiency have been reported (OMIM).

[edit] External link


In other languages