Chymotrypsin-like elastase family member 1 (CELA1) also known as elastase-1 (ELA1) is an
enzyme
Enzymes () are proteins that act as biological catalysts by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecules known as products. A ...
that in humans is encoded by the CELA1
gene
In biology, the word gene (from , ; "...Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or ''birth'' or ''gender'') can have several different meanings. The Mendelian gene is a ba ...
. Elastases form a subfamily of serine proteases that hydrolyze many proteins in addition to elastin. Humans have six elastase genes which encode the structurally similar proteins elastase 1, 2, 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B.
Tissue distribution
Elastase-1 was formerly designated pancreatic elastase 1. However unlike other
elastase
In molecular biology, elastase is an enzyme from the class of ''proteases (peptidases)'' that break down proteins. In particular, it is a serine protease.
Forms and classification
Eight human genes exist for elastase:
Some bacteria (includin ...
s, pancreatic elastase 1 is not expressed in the pancreas. Hence this enzyme has been renamed as elastase-1. To date, elastase 1 expression has only been detected in skin
keratinocyte
Keratinocytes are the primary type of Cell (biology), cell found in the epidermis (skin), epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin. In humans, they constitute 90% of epidermal skin cells.
Basal cells in the stratum basale, basal layer (''str ...
s. Literature that describes human elastase 1 activity in the pancreas or fecal material is actually referring to chymotrypsin-like elastase family, member 3B
CELA3B
Chymotrypsin-like elastase family member 3B also known as elastase-3B, protease E, or fecal elastase is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ''CELA3B'' gene.
Clinical literature that describes human elastase 1 activity in the pancreas or f ...
).
Clinical significance
This enzyme has been linked to chronic pancreatitis .
References
Further reading
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External links
* The
MEROPS
MEROPS is an online database for peptidases (also known as proteases, proteinases and proteolytic enzymes) and their inhibitors. The classification scheme for peptidases was published by Rawlings & Barrett in 1993, and that for protein inhibitor ...
online database for peptidases and their inhibitors
S01.153*
EC 3.4.21
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