carboxypeptidase

enzyme

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Last updated

June 22, 2026

Quick Summary

Carboxypeptidase is an enzyme that breaks down proteins. Specifically, it hydrolyzes peptides and polypeptides by sequentially splitting off amino acids that have free carboxyl groups.1

Carboxypeptidases are a type of proteolytic enzyme, meaning they are involved in the breakdown of proteins. These enzymes are crucial in the digestive process, particularly in the small intestine, where they help convert partially digested proteins into amino acids that can be absorbed by the body. Pancreatic enzymes, including carboxypeptidase, are released in an inactive form and then activated in the intestine to perform their function.2

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coordination compound
Coordination compounds in nature
…metal complexes (metalloenzymes); for example, carboxypeptidase, a hydrolytic enzyme important in digestion, contains a zinc ion coordinated to several amino acid residues of the protein. Another enzyme, catalase, which is an efficient catalyst for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, contains iron
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…metal complexes (metalloenzymes); for example, carboxypeptidase, a hydrolytic enzyme important in digestion, contains a zinc ion coordinated to several amino acid residues of the protein. Another enzyme, catalase, which is an efficient catalyst for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, contains iron
Read More

protein
The induced-fit theory
…case of the digestive enzyme carboxypeptidase, for example, the binding of the substrate causes a tyrosine molecule at the active site to move by as much as 15 angstroms. The catalytic groups at the active site react with the substrate to form products. The products separate from the enzyme surface,…
Read More
…case of the digestive enzyme carboxypeptidase, for example, the binding of the substrate causes a tyrosine molecule at the active site to move by as much as 15 angstroms. The catalytic groups at the active site react with the substrate to form products. The products separate from the enzyme surface,…
Read More