Thimet oligopeptidase--a review of a thiol dependent metallo-endopeptidase also known as Pz-peptidase endopeptidase 24.15 and endo-oligopeptidase.

Thimet oligopeptidase (EC 3.4.24.15) is a thiol-dependent metallo-endopeptidase also known as Pz-peptidase, collagenase-like peptidase, endooligopeptidase A, soluble metallo-endopeptidase and endopeptidase 24.15. The enzyme is closely related to the yeast proteinase yscD. Thimet oligopeptidase (M(r) 74000) is widely distributed in animals and plants. In rat liver it exists in a cytoplasmic and mitochondrial form; a membrane-bound form of the enzyme was discovered in rat brain. Thimet oligopeptidase hydrolyses small peptides but does not act on proteins. In rat brain thimet oligopeptidase is involved in the generation of enkephalins and inactivation of bioactive peptides and experiments with yeast provided good evidence that the enzyme is involved in the late stages of cytoplasmatic protein degradation.