E-Book Overview
The critically acclaimed laboratory standard, Methods in Enzymology, is one of the most highly respected publications in the field of biochemistry. Since 1955, each volume has been eagerly awaited, frequently consulted, and praised by researchers and reviewers alike. The series contains much material still relevant today - truly an essential publication for researchers in all fields of life sciences.Key Features• Presents new ideas on classification of proteolytic enzymes• Covers 100 individual proteolytic enzymes• Offers numerous medical implications of work in this area• Provides uses of these enzymes in biotechnology
E-Book Content
Preface Through the earlier, general volumes on proteolytic enzymes (Volumes 19, 45, and 80), Methods in Enzymology made available over 200 authoritative articles on these enzymes and their inhibitors. Since the appearance of the latest of these volumes, however, there have been many profound advances in this field of study. The biomedical importance of proteolytic enzymes, suspected for so long, has been established beyond reasonable doubt for a number of groups, including the matrix metalloproteinases, the viral polyprotein-processing enzymes, and the prohormone-processing peptidases. The more recent, specialized Volumes 222, 223, and 241 have dealt with some of these areas, but others have remained to be covered. The resurgence of excitement about proteolytic enzymes has inevitably resulted in an information explosion, but some of the new understanding has also helped us develop novel approaches to the management of the mass of data. As a result, we can now "see the forest for the trees" a little more clearly. Like other proteins, the proteolytic enzymes have benefited from the recent advances in molecular biology, and amino acid sequences are now available for many hundreds of them. These can be used to group the enzymes in families of evo