Aminopeptidases are a family of widely distributed proteases, which may be used to study many significant biological processes such as protein maturation, hormone production, and peptide digestion. The enzyme has been used to measure the kinetic rate constant for the binding of bestatin, a general protease inhibitor, to aminopeptidase.
Aminopeptidase from Aeromonas proteolytica is a metalloenzyme, which contains 2 atoms of Zn2+ in a single polypeptide with an approximate molecular weight of 29.5 kDa as determined by sedimentation. This enzyme has a high degree of stability, being stable even at temperatures of 70 °C for several hours. Partial inactivation occurs in 8 M urea. Maximum stability and activity are between pH 8.0-8.5. Aminopeptidase from Aeromonas proteolytica can function as an esterase.
