Chymotrypsin-like elastase family member 1 (CELA1) also known as elastase-1 (ELA1) is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the CELA1 gene. The chymotrypsin-like elastases form a subfamily of serine proteases that hydrolyze many proteins in addition to elastin. Humans have 5 genes in this subfamily which encode structurally similar enzymes, denoted CELA1, CELA2A, CELA2B, CELA3A, and CELA3B.
Tissue distribution
Elastase-1 was formerly designated pancreatic elastase 1. However unlike other elastases, pancreatic elastase 1 is not expressed in the pancreas. Hence this enzyme has been renamed as elastase-1. To date, elastase 1 expression has only been detected in skin keratinocytes. Literature that describes human elastase 1 activity in the pancreas or fecal material is likely actually talking about other chymotrypsin-like elastase family members such as CELA2A or CELA3B.
References
Further reading
External links The MEROPS online database for peptidases and their inhibitors: S01.153