Proteases are enzymes that break peptide bonds in proteins . They use a water molecule to do so and are therefore classified as hydrolases .
Summary
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- 1 Properties
- 2 Protease deficiency
- 3 functions
- 4 Fruits That Contain Protease Enzymes
- 5 Protease inhibitors
- 6 sources
Properties
It is an enzyme secreted by the pancreas that participates in the degradation of proteins or peptones , resulting from the action of gastric pepsin . The protease is secreted as a proenzyme and is activated by intestinal juice . It is administered together with the other pancreatic proenzymes ( amylase , lipase ) when there is a decrease in pancreatic secretions.
protease deficiency
If you have a protease deficiency, your health could be greatly affected. A lack of protease can cause an alkaline buildup in the bloodstream, leading to symptoms such as anxiety . Proteases are also used to digest organisms such as bacteria and fungi . People who are deficient are more susceptible to fungal , bacterial, and viral infections, since the body doesn’t have that first line to break them down. Lack of proteases can also lead to problems such as calcium deficiency diseases and hypoglycemia .. Proteins are necessary to get calcium into the bloodstream, and if the body processes it incorrectly, it will not receive the adequate amount to prevent diseases such as osteoporosis or arthritis . Since protein is also converted to glucose , if it is not converted correctly, the body’s blood sugar level will drop to dangerous levels. For people who are deficient in proteases, enzyme therapy is available to help maintain healthy levels.
Functions
Proteases act by breaking peptide bonds in proteins to release amino acids . They can break down all proteins unless they are part of a living cell . There are different types of proteases for the type of peptide bond that needs to be analyzed. For example, there are fungal proteases, pepsin and papain, which perform different functions. However, some organisms, such as viruses , cover themselves with a protein shield, forcing the body to use large amounts of proteases to attack the shield before your immune system can kill the virus.
Fruits that contain protease enzymes
Protease enzymes break down or change the composition of proteins or peptides . In addition to being important for the process of digestion and metabolism , some protease enzymes are thought to improve inflammation and strengthen the immune system , according to World’s Healthiest Foods . Although protease enzymes can be taken in supplement form and added to certain foods , they are also found naturally in certain fruits .
- Papaya : This exotic fruit was once called the “fruit of angels” by Christopher Columbus , according to World’s Healthiest Foods. It is a very potent source of the protease enzyme papain , as well as a similar enzyme called chmyopapain . These enzymes have an anti-inflammatory mechanism and may also play a role in burn healing, notes World’s Healthiest Foods. Although papain is believed to be helpful in relieving some of these health problems, it is not known to be a medical cure for any condition.
- Pineapple : Pineapple is an excellent source of the protease-containing compound bromelain and is believed to aid in digestion as well as reducing blood clotting and inflammation, reports World’s Healthiest Foods. Additionally, bromelain may have the ability to reduce the growth of certain types of tumors. Bromelain is frequently extracted from the core or stem of the pineapple for use in supplements.
- Kiwifruit : Kiwifruit contains actinidine , a proteolytic enzyme with papain-like activity. Actinidine accounts for half of the soluble protein content of kiwifruit. In some cases, actinidine can be an allergen and is sometimes associated with a hypersensitivity reaction within minutes of eating kiwi. Kiwifruit juice is sometimes used as a meat tenderizer, due in part to the proteolytic activity of actinidin.
protease inhibitors
Protease is an enzyme that HIV needs to complete its self-copying process (replication), giving rise to new viruses capable of infecting other cells. In its replication process, HIV produces long chains of proteins that need to be fragmented (cut) into smaller pieces that form the proteins and enzymes that help build new copies of the virus. The fragmentation of the longest chains is produced by the protease and its inhibitors prevent the fragmentation from taking place, so that the proteins that are formed give rise to defective copies of HIV that, although they can destroy the cell that they infected, they can no longer infect more cells.
By themselves, protease inhibitors (PIs) do not completely eliminate HIV from the body. However, with this type of medication, it has been observed that they can reduce the amount of HIV by up to 99%, even though some remain dormant within infected cells. By producing new defective viruses, at least the HIV infection would not spread within the body as quickly as it does today, and theoretically it would be possible to achieve a ‘chronification’ of the HIV infection since, by If there were fewer viruses, fewer CD4 cells would become infected, and the infected person would be able to fight infections better and live longer.
Their use in combination with other antiretrovirals has shown that protease inhibitors can
- Reduce the amount of HIV in the blood (measured by viral load).
- Increase the number of CD4 lymphocytes , even when they are very low.
- Prolong the time to onset of first AIDS-defining illness or death.
- Help fewer opportunistic infections to develop.
- Possibly reduce the risk of transmission of the virus.
- Possibly preserve the function of the immune system.
Other protease inhibitors are being tested clinically in people with HIV, and others are being tested in the laboratory. Initially it was thought that protease inhibitors appeared to have fewer side effects and be less toxic than other approved HIV drugs such as reverse transcriptase inhibitors.
