Endopeptidase

Endopeptidase or endoproteinase are peptidases that break peptide bonds within the molecule, in contrast to exopeptidases, which break peptide bonds from their end-pieces. Thus, endopeptidases cleave peptides.

They are usually very specific for certain amino acids.

Examples of endopeptidases include:
 * Trypsin - cuts after Arg or Lys, unless followed by Pro. Very strict.
 * Chymotrypsin - cuts after Phe, Trp, or Tyr, unless followed by Pro. Cuts more slowly after Asn, His, Met or Leu.
 * Elastase - cuts after Ala, Gly, Ser, or Val, unless followed by Pro.
 * Thermolysin - cuts before Ile, Met, Phe, Trp, Tyr, or Val, unless preceded by Pro. Sometimes cuts after Ala, Asp, His or Thr.  Heat stable.
 * Pepsin - cuts before Leu, Phe, Trp or Tyr, unless preceded by Pro. Also others, quite nonspecific; works best at pH 2.
 * Endopeptidase V8 - cuts after Glu.