Question

Describe the structure and mechanism of action of proteases

Answer 1

This is a bit to broad a question to be specific since there are 6 classes of proteases with very different structures and mechanisms. The six major classes are: Serine proteases, Threonine proteases, Cysteine proteases, Aspartate proteases, Metalloproteases, and Glutamic Acid proteases.

In general, proteases recognize a sequence of 3 or so amino acids and cut at either the C-terminal or N-terminal of the amino acid they are named for. They are almost all highly pH sensitive and many are also sensitive to ion concentrations. Read wiki for more, its impossible to get any more specific unless you are talking about one group or a specific protease.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protease