Gene:
pregnancy-zone protein
Gene ID:
192070
Symbol:
PZP
Species:
1000
Description:
Is able to inhibit all four classes of proteinases by a unique trapping mechanism. This protein has a peptide stretch, called the 'bait region' which contains specific cleavage sites for different proteinases. When a proteinase cleaves the bait region, a conformational change is induced in the protein which traps the proteinase. The entrapped enzyme remains active against low molecular weight substrates (activity against high molecular weight substrates is greatly reduced). Following cleavage in the bait region a thiolester bond is hydrolyzed and mediates the covalent binding of the protein to the proteinase.