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 An enzyme () is a protein that acts as a biological catalyst by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrate (chemistry), substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different mol ...

encoded by the

gene In biology, the word gene has two meanings. The Mendelian gene is a basic unit of heredity. The molecular gene is a sequence of nucleotides in DNA that is transcribed to produce a functional RNA. There are two types of molecular genes: protei ...

. Glutamyl aminopeptidase has also recently been designated CD249 (

cluster of differentiation The cluster of differentiation (also known as cluster of designation or classification determinant and often abbreviated as CD) is a protocol used for the identification and investigation of cell surface molecules providing targets for immunophe ...

249). Glutamyl aminopeptidase is a zinc-dependent membrane-bound

aminopeptidase Aminopeptidases are enzymes that catalyze the cleavage of amino acids from the N-terminus (beginning), of proteins or peptides. They are found in many organisms; in the cell, they are found in many organelles, in the cytosol (internal cellular f ...

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 amin ...

of polypeptides. The enzyme degrades

vasoconstricting Vasoconstriction is the narrowing of the blood vessels resulting from contraction of the muscular wall of the vessels, in particular the large arteries and small arterioles. The process is the opposite of vasodilation, the widening of blood vesse ...

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 ...

into angiotensin III and therefore helps to regulate

blood pressure Blood pressure (BP) is the pressure of Circulatory system, 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 ...

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 inhibito ...

online database for peptidases and their inhibitors
M01.003
* Clusters of differentiation Zinc enzymes {{hydrolase-stub