proteolyticadj.

1877 M. Foster Text Bk. Physiol. ii. iv. 276 An aqueous solution of the precipitate is both amylolytic and proteolytic, i.e. appears to contain some of both the salivary (pancreatic) ferment and pepsin.

1896 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. I. 724 The organism at the primary seat of lesion secretes a potent proteolytic enzyme.

1953 R. W. Fairbrother Text-bk. Bacteriol. (ed. 7) iii. 32 Some bacteria, such as B. subtilis, Cl. sporogenes, and Proteus vulgaris, have a marked proteolytic activity.

1974 J. B. Finean et al. Membranes & Cellular Functions iv. 64 Some other peptide hormones, such as oxytocin and vasopressin.., are probably also produced by selective proteolytic cleavage of larger molecular weight precursors.

1990 Chem. Senses 15 199 The loss of this effect on behavior after degradation of the protein with heat or proteolytic enzymes shows that the polypeptide chain is an essential part of the pheromone.

1903 Ann. Bot. 17 613 I have further succeeded in preparing a proteolytically active glycerin-extract from the roots.

1989 Nature 13 July 157/1 The haemagglutinins of the naturally occurring pathogenic H7 avian influenza viruses sequenced so far are proteolytically activated in a broad range of cell types.