Short chains of amino acids linked by peptide (amide) bonds. Peptides are used as catalysts, signaling ligands, and imaging agents; for biometric hydrogel construction, immunoprecipitation processes, and more.
Inhibits trypsin-like proteases and some cysteine proteases. MP Biomedicals' Leupeptin is a modified tripeptide reversible protease inhibitor. Little to no inhibition is seen against pepsin, cathepsins A and D, and alpha-chymotrypsin.