Glutamyl aminopeptidase (, ''aminopeptidase A'', ''aspartate aminopeptidase'', ''angiotensinase A'', ''glutamyl peptidase'', ''Ca²⁺-activated glutamate aminopeptidase'', ''membrane aminopeptidase II'', ''antigen BP-1/6C3 of mouse B lymphocytes'', ''L-aspartate aminopeptidase'', ''angiotensinase A2'') 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 ...

encoded by the

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 ...

. Glutamyl aminopeptidase has also recently been designated CD249 ( cluster of differentiation 249). Glutamyl aminopeptidase is a zinc-dependent membrane-bound

aminopeptidase Aminopeptidases are enzymes that catalyze the cleavage of amino acids from the amino terminus (N-terminus) of proteins or peptides (exopeptidases). They are widely distributed throughout the animal and plant kingdoms and are found in many subcell ...

that catalyzes the cleavage of glutamatic and aspartatic amino acid residues from the

N-terminus The N-terminus (also known as the amino-terminus, NH2-terminus, N-terminal end or amine-terminus) is the start of a protein or polypeptide, referring to the free amine group (-NH2) located at the end of a polypeptide. Within a peptide, the ami ...

of polypeptides. The enzyme degrades vasoconstricting

angiotensin II Angiotensin is a peptide hormone that causes vasoconstriction and an increase in blood pressure. It is part of the renin–angiotensin system, which regulates blood pressure. Angiotensin also stimulates the release of aldosterone from the adre ...

into angiotensin III and therefore helps to regulate

blood pressure Blood pressure (BP) is the pressure of circulating blood against the walls of blood vessels. Most of this pressure results from the heart pumping blood through the circulatory system. When used without qualification, the term "blood pressure" r ...

References

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
M01.003
* Clusters of differentiation Zinc enzymes {{hydrolase-stub