Canadian Medical Guide > Chemicals and Drugs > Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins > Proteins > Serpins Terms and Definitions

Serpins

Medical Definition:	A family of serine proteinase inhibitors which are similar in amino acid sequence and mechanism of inhibition, but differ in their specificity toward proteolytic enzymes. This family includes alpha 1-antitrypsin, angiotensinogen, ovalbumin, antiplasmin, alpha 1-antichymotrypsin, thyroxine-binding protein, complement 1 inactivators, antithrombin III, heparin cofactor II, plasminogen inactivators, gene Y protein, placental plasminogen activator inhibitor, and barley Z protein. Some members of the serpin family may be substrates rather than inhibitors of SERINE ENDOPEPTIDASES, and some serpins occur in plants where their function is not known.
Guide Notes:	"a family of SERine Proteinase INhibitors", thus the source of the name
Also Called:	Serpin Superfamily
Previously Indexed:	Enzyme Inhibitors (1968-1978),Protease Inhibitors (1979-1989)

Serpins Categories.

	Antithrombins - An endogenous family of proteins belonging to the serpin superfamily that neutralizes the action of thrombin. Six naturally occuring antithrombins have been identified and are designated by Roman numerals I to VI. Of these, Antithrombin I (see FIBRIN) and ANTITHROMBIN III appear to be of major importance.
	Plasminogen Inactivators - Important modulators of the activity of plasminogen activators. Four inhibitors, all belonging to the serpin family of proteins, have been implicated in plasminogen activation inhibition. They are PAI-1, PAI-2, protease-nexin, and PROTEIN C INHIBITOR; (PAI-3). All inhibit both the tissue-type and urokinase-type plasminogen activators.

Serpins Medical Definitions and Terms

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