Description
This enzyme from the extreme thermophile, Thermus aquaticus, is an alkaline serine peptidase. It has three subsites, S1, S2, and S3, in the substrate binding site. The preferred amino acids at the S1 site are Ala and Phe, at the S2 site are Ala and norleucine and at the S3 site are Phe and Ile. These specificities are similar to those of EC 3.4.21.64 (peptidase K) and EC 3.4.21.62 (subtilisin BPN'). The enzyme displays broad specificity for cleavage of insulin B-chain and hydrolyses elastin substrates such as succinyl-(Ala)n-p-nitroanilide (n = 1,2,3) and some peptide esters. Belongs in peptidase family S8A.