Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Any of various enzymes, including the endopeptidases and exopeptidases, that catalyze the hydrolytic breakdown of proteins into peptides or amino acids.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A generic term for proteolytic ferments.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun biochemistry An enzyme that cuts or cleaves proteins.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun any enzyme that catalyzes the splitting of proteins into smaller peptide fractions and amino acids by a process known as proteolysis

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From prote(in) + -ase.

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Examples

  • Both drugs are known as protease inhibitors, which are designed to block an enzyme that helps the hepatitis C virus replicate.

    Hepatitis C Drugs Await FDA Approval Jennifer Corbett Dooren 2011

  • Both Incivek and Victrelis are known as protease inhibitors, designed to block an enzyme that helps the hepatitis C virus replicate.

    Hepatitis C Drug Approved Thomas Gryta 2011

  • Kidney beans also contain protease inhibitors which frustrate the development of cancerous cells.

    Green Bell Pepper stuffed with Kidney Beans 2006

  • Kidney beans also contain protease inhibitors which frustrate the development of cancerous cells.

    Happy Birthday!!! 2006

  • Kidney beans also contain protease inhibitors which frustrate the development of cancerous cells.

    Archive 2006-09-01 2006

  • Prezista, which has been on the market since 2006, is a so-called protease inhibitor designed to treat HIV infection and is taken with the drug Norvir, in combination with other antiretroviral agents.

    Gilead, J&J Agree to Develop New Combination HIV Drug Peter Loftus 2011

  • Prezista, which has been on the market since 2006, is a so-called protease inhibitor designed to treat HIV infection and is taken with the drug Norvir, in combination with other antiretroviral agents.

    Gilead, J&J Agree to Develop New Combination HIV Drug Peter Loftus 2011

  • The FDA is expected to decide soon on telaprevir, another so-called protease inhibitor from Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Johnson & Johnson .

    FDA Clears Merck Hepatitis Drug Jonathan D. Rockoff 2011

  • Both the Merck and Vertex drugs are known as protease inhibitors, which are designed to block an enzyme that helps hepatitis C virus replicate.

    Corporate Watch 2010

  • Both the Merck and Vertex drugs are known as protease inhibitors, which are designed to block an enzyme that helps hepatitis C virus replicate.

    Merck Reports Encouraging Results for Hepatitis C Treatment 2010

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