Elastase (ELA) is a chymotrypsin-like serine protease which breaks down proteins. The ELAs are numbered according to their genes. Panceatic ELA cleaves proteins at the carboxyl-terminal side of small neutral amino acids. It cleaves Ala-Ala and Ala-Gly bonds. [1] For additional details see
Relevance
ELA1 in the pancreas correlates well with exocrine pancreatic functioning and is used as a function test for patients with pancreatitis. ELA2 (or PMN-ELA) is secreted by neutrophils during inflammation.
Disease
Pulmonary emphysema is caused by the destruction of elastic fibre by elastase. Mutations in ELA2 are linked to the genetic disorder cyclic hematopoeiesis. Neutrophil elastase is involved in the blistering in bullose pemphigoid.
Structural highlights
(cyan, green) complex with (magenta, yellow) (PDB code 1eai). ELA .[2]
3D structures of elastase
Elastase 3D structures
