Carboxypeptidase E

Carboxypeptidase E (CPE) is also known as Carboxypeptidase H or enkephalin convertase. Carboxypeptidase E cleaves C-terminal amino acid residues and is involved in neuropeptide processing. It is a peripheral membrane protein. CPE specifically binds regulated secretory pathway proteins, including prohormones, but not constitutively secreted proteins. Carboxypeptidase E appears to have several functions. The active form of carboxypeptidase E was shown to be in secretory vesicles, where it acts as an exopeptidase to activate neuropeptides, It does that by cleaving off basic C-terminal amino acids, producing the active form of the peptide. Products of carboxypeptidase E include insulin, enkephalin, and most other neuroendocrine peptides.It has also been proposed that membrane-associated carboxypeptidase E acts as a sorting signal for regulated secretory proteins in the trans-Golgi network of the pituitary and in secretory granules; regulated secretory proteins are mostly hormones and neuropeptides. Mice with mutant carboxypeptidase E Cpe, display endocrine disorders like obesity and infertility.