elastase

[ ih-las-teys, -taz ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. a pancreatic protease that catalyzes the hydrolysis of elastin and other related proteins to polypeptides and amino acids.

elastase

/ ɪˈlæsteɪs /

noun

1. an enzyme that digests elastin

Word History and Origins

Origin of elastase¹

First recorded in 1945–50; elast(in) + -ase