Prolyl peptidases: a serine protease subfamily with high potential for drug discovery

Much attention has recently been given to a class of proteases that cleave proteins and peptides after proline residues. This class includes dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV; also termed CD26), fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP; seprase), DPP7 (DPP II; quiescent cell proline dipeptidase), DPP8, DPP9, and prolyl carboxypeptidase (PCP; angiotensinase C). More distant members include prolyl oligopeptidase (POP; post proline cleaving enzyme) and acylaminoacylpeptidase (AAP; acylpeptide hydrolase). The DPPs and related proteins contain both membrane-bound and soluble members and span a broad range of expression patterns, tissue distributions and compartmentalization. These proteins have important roles in regulation of signaling by peptide hormones, and are emerging targets for diabetes, oncology and other indications.