proteinase

proteinase /pro·tein·ase/ (pro´ten-as?) endopeptidase.

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pro·tein·ase (prtn-s, -z)

n.

A protease that begins the hydrolytic breakdown of proteins usually by splitting them into polypeptide chains.

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proteinase

any enzyme that catalyzes the splitting of interior peptide bonds in a protein; an endopeptidase.

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proteinase resistant protein (prp)

a protein which resists digestion by proteinases; the amyloid fibrils in brain tissue of sheep affected with scrapie contain such a prp.