What is aminopeptidases?

Aminopeptidases are enzymes that cleave amino acids from the N-terminus (the end with the amino group) of peptides and proteins. They are found in many different organisms, from bacteria to humans. Aminopeptidases are involved in a range of biological processes, including protein degradation, peptide hormone processing, and antigen presentation. There are several classes of aminopeptidases, including metalloproteases, serine proteases, and cysteine proteases. These enzymes have different structures and catalytic mechanisms, but they all share the ability to cleave peptide bonds at the N-terminus of amino acids. Some aminopeptidases are involved in disease processes, such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease, and are potential targets for drug development.