Heteroprotease

/ˌhetərəˈproʊtieɪz/ noun

Definition

A class of protein-digesting enzymes that break down different types of proteins or work on proteins from different sources.

Etymology

From Greek 'hetero-' (different) + 'protease' (enzyme that breaks down proteins, from 'proteios' meaning protein-related). This term emerged in 20th-century biochemistry.

Kelly Says

Your stomach's pepsin enzyme is a heteroprotease—it doesn't care what kind of protein you eat (chicken, beans, tofu), it breaks them all down the same way.

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