protease

noun pro·te·ase \ ˈprō-tē-ˌās , -ˌāz \

Definition of protease

: any of numerous enzymes that hydrolyze proteins and are classified according to the most prominent functional group (such as serine or cysteine) at the active site — called also proteinase

Recent Examples of protease from the Web

Pineapple contains bromelain, a mixture of two protein-digesting enzymes (called proteases), a corrosive chemical that breaks down amino acids (that’s why pineapple is an effective and delicious meat tenderizer).

— sarah jampel, Bon Appetit, "A Trick That Keeps Pineapple From Burning Your Mouth When You Eat a Ton," 7 Mar. 2018
HIV protease inhibitors, for example – for which there's sufficient knowledge to guide chemists' discovery efforts.

— michael menduno, WIRED, "Molecular Matchmaker," 1 May 2001
As late as 1994, after more than a decade of organization and activism and research, the activists had split between centrists and radicals, and the new class of drugs, protease inhibitors, were failing in early clinical trials.

— andrew sullivan, New York Times, "HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE," 21 Nov. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'protease.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of protease

International Scientific Vocabulary

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1903

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

protease

noun pro·te·ase \ ˈprōt-ē-ˌās, -ˌāz \

medical Definition of protease

: any of numerous enzymes that hydrolyze proteins and are classified according to the most prominent functional group (as serine or cysteine) at the active site — called also proteinase; compare peptidase