Pitrilysin Metalloproteinase 1 (MP1)

The phosphofructokinase (PFK) C (Pfkp) and the pitrilysin metalloprotease 1 (Pitrm1) genes are compelling positional candidate genes in this region that show coding sequence differences between the parental strains in functional domains.

ATP-independent protease that degrades mitochondrial transit peptides after their cleavage. Also degrades other unstructured peptides. Specific for peptides in the range of 10 to 65 residues. Able to degrade amyloid beta A4 (APP) protein when it accumulates in mitochondrion, suggesting a link with Alzheimer disease. Shows a preference for cleavage after small polar residues and before basic residues, but without any positional preference. Widely expressed. Expressed at higher level in muscle and heart compared to brain, pancreas, liver, lung and placenta.