Question

Can somebody please explain the difference between the catalytic triads of trypsin and chemotrypsin?

I know that chemotrypsin is a Ser protease while trypsin is an Asp protease but what does that mean more specifically.

I tried looking up structures for both of the triads and found that they both contain Ser195, His57 and Asp102 and they are connected in the same manner too.

I am really confused between the differences, please help. Thank you

Answer 1

A catalytic triad is the three amino acid residues that are present in active site of an enzyme. Trypsin and chymotrypsin both are  serine proteases. These enzymes have a catalytic triad consisting of histidine57, aspartate102, and serine195.

I guess you have got confused considering trypsin as Asp protease in fact it is Set protease.

There is no difference in the catalytic triads of trypsin and chymotrypsin.