SERPIN

serpine protease inhibitor

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ser·pin 'sir-pən, 'ser- n [serine proteinase inhibitor] any of a group of structurally related proteins that typically are serine protease inhibitors (as antithrombin and antitrypsin) whose inhibiting activity is conferred by an active site in a highly variable and mobile peptide loop and that include some (as ovalbumin and angiotensinogen) which have apparently lost the inhibitory action due to mutation in the course of evolutionary change

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ser·pin (surґpin) [serine protease inhibitor] any of a superfamily of high-molecular-weight, structurally related glycoproteins that act as serine protease (serine endopeptidase) inhibitors. They have a specific, highly ordered tertiary structure with a mobile reaction center, although individual serpins are highly specific for particular endopeptidases. Among their targets are serine endopeptidases involved in coagulation, complement activation, fibrinolysis, inflammation, and tissue remodeling.