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Library of Medicine®| PRSS gene family Reviewed October 2012
What are the PRSS genes? The serine peptidases gene family
provides instructions for making a group of enzymes known as
peptidases. A peptidase is an enzyme that breaks down protein
fragments, known as peptides, into their individual building
blocks (amino acids). The peptide to be broken down is attached
(bound) to the serine peptidase at a region of the enzyme known
as the active site or substrate-binding site. Within this site
in the enzyme structure is the amino acid serine, which is why
these enzymes are classified as serine peptidases. There are
more than 150 serine peptidases in humans. Most of these enzymes
are released from cells in a nonfunctional (inactive) state. The
enzyme needs to be cut (cleaved) twice in order to be turned on
(activated): once to cut off a region of the enzyme that guides
its release from the cell and again to activate the enzyme.
Serine peptidases play a role