Review of serine protease inhibitors: Development and applications

A class of enzymes known as proteases is responsible for catalyzing the breakdown of covalent peptide bonds. Proteases account for almost 2% of the genes in humans, infectious organisms, and other forms of life. Serine proteases, so named because they have a nucleophilic serine residue at the active site, make for nearly one-third of all proteases. Although digesting is their primary role in humans, they also play roles in immunological response, apoptosis, inflammation, blood coagulation