AAF-CMK (CAS 184901-82-4)

AAF-CMK is a synthetic peptide that serves as an irreversible inhibitor and is used in biochemical research to study protease activity, particularly that of serine proteases. The compound features an acetyl group and a reactive chloromethyl ketone moiety, which interacts with the active site of target proteases, leading to the alkylation of the serine residue and thus inactivating the enzyme. By inhibiting specific proteases, AAF-CMK allows researchers to dissect the roles these enzymes play in various biological processes, such as apoptosis, cell signaling, and the degradation of intracellular proteins. It is also employed in the study of protease regulation and the specificity of enzyme-substrate interactions. The use of AAF-CMK in biochemical assays helps in elucidating the mechanisms underlying protease function and their implications in cellular physiology and pathology. Additionally, this inhibitor is used in the development of new strategies for modulating protease activity, which can have applications in various fields, including biotechnology and the study of conditions where proteases are key factors.