endopeptidase /en′dōpep′ti·dās/ [Gk, endon, within + Gk, peptein, to digest + ase, enzyme suffix] , any peptidase that catalyzes the cleavage of internal peptide bonds in a polypeptide or protein. Endopeptidases are divided into subclasses on the basis of catalytic mechanism and comprise the serine endopeptidases, cysteine endopeptidases, aspartic endopeptidases, metalloendopeptidases, and other endopeptidases.
