Elastase

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 Serine Proteases.

Relevance

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

ELA catalytic triad is Ser-His-Asp.