title: A unique signature identifies a family of zinc-dependent metallopeptidases.
abstract: The primary sequence motif HExxH has been found in many zinc-dependent endopeptidases. We show that a larger signature comprising this sequence is common to most of the known zinc-dependent endopeptidases, and that the presence of the signature can be indicative of membership in the family. A search of the protein sequence databases for entries containing the signature retrieved several unexpected potential zinc endopeptidases.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, Epalinges, Switzerland.
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Jongeneel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bouvier
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bairoch
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D008666:Metalloendopeptidases