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Anexopeptidase is anypeptidase thatcatalyzes the cleavage of the terminal (or the penultimate)peptide bond; the process releases a singleamino acid,dipeptide or atripeptide from the peptide chain.[1] Depending on whether the amino acid is released from the amino or the carboxy terminal (N-terminus orC-terminus), an exopeptidase is further classified as an aminopeptidase or a carboxypeptidase, respectively. Thus, anaminopeptidase, an enzyme in thebrush border of thesmall intestine, will cleave a single amino acid from the amino terminal, whereascarboxypeptidase, which is adigestive enzyme present inpancreatic juice, will cleave a single amino acid from the carboxylic end of the peptide.
Some examples of exopeptidases include:[1]
