This propeptide is cleaved during maturation of protealysin [1-2]. Before cleavage it interacts with the catalytic domain, blocking the active site [3].

1: Cloning, sequencing, expression, and characterization of protealysin, a novel neutral proteinase from Serratia proteamaculans representing a new group of thermolysin-like proteases with short N-terminal region of precursor. Demidyuk IV, Kalashnikov AE, Gromova TY, Gasanov EV, Safina DR, Zabolotskaya MV, Rudenskaya GN, Kostrov SV; Protein Expr Purif. 2006;47:551-561. PMID:16442309

2: Processing of protealysin precursor. Gromova TY, Demidyuk IV, Kozlovskiy VI, Kuranova IP, Kostrov SV; Biochimie. 2009;91:639-645. PMID:19324072

3: Crystal structure of the protealysin precursor: insights into propeptide function. Demidyuk IV, Gromova TY, Polyakov KM, Melik-Adamyan WR, Kuranova IP, Kostrov SV; J Biol Chem. 2010;285:2003-2013. PMID:19915005