elastase

Term: elastase

Literally meaning: “separating elastin”

Origin: Anc Greek

Ελάω/elao(=be flexibe or ductile)) >ελαύνω/elavno(=run, drive)

-άση/-asy(=-ase) suffix added to the name of the substrate that the enzyme  hydrolyzes eg proteinase for protein or lipase for lipids

>διά-/dia-(=prefix denoting “through”, “apart” )

> δυο/dio(two) + στάσις/stasis(=halt) > ίστημι/histimi(=stand).

Coined/History

in 1971 an elastolytic enzyme was defined first time which absorbs on elastin from Streptomyces griseus exhibiting specificity toward aminoacids with short aliphatic side chains (Gertler, 1971).   

Sources

1.Gertler A, Hofmann T The involvement of the amino-terminal amino acid in the activity of pancreatic proteases. I. The effects of nitrous acid on elastase, J Biol Chem, 1967.

2. Gertlel A, Trop M The elastase-like enzymes from Streptomyces griseus (pronase).Isolation and partial characterization Eur J Bioch, 1971

Definition

Elastase is a proteolytic enzyme that is produced in pancreas, like trypsin, as an inactive proenzyme , and activated in duodenum by trypsin.