An enzyme catalyzing the hydrolysis of a peptide chain at points well within the chain, not near termini; e.g., pepsin, trypsin. Cf.:exopeptidase. SYN: proteinase.
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en·do·pep·ti·dase -'pep-tə-.dās, -.dāz n any of a group of enzymes that hydrolyze peptide bonds inside the long chains of protein molecules: PROTEASE compare EXOPEPTIDASE
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n.
a digestive enzyme (e.g. pepsin) that splits a whole protein into small peptide fractions by splitting the linkages between peptides in the interior of the molecule. Compare exopeptidase. See also peptidase.
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en·do·pep·ti·dase (en″do-pepґtĭ-dās) [EC 3.4.21–99] any peptidase that catalyzes the cleavage of internal peptide bonds in a polypeptide or protein; they are divided into subclasses on the basis of catalytic mechanism and comprise the serine endopeptidases, cysteine endopeptidases, aspartic endopeptidases, metalloendopeptidases, and other endopeptidases.Medical dictionary. 2011.