Question

Does our blood have proteases and nucleases?

Answer 1

Proteases occur naturally in all organisms. These enzymes are involved in a multitude of physiological reactions, from the simple digestion of food proteins to highly regulated cascades (e.g., the blood-clotting cascade, the complement system, apoptotic pathways, and the invertebrate prophenoloxidase-activating cascade). Proteases present in blood serum (thrombin, plasmin, Hageman factor, etc.) play an important role in blood-clotting, as well as in lysis of the clots, and the action of the immune system. Other proteases are present in leucocytes (elastase, cathepsin G) and play several different roles in metabolic control. Nucleases, such as deoxyribonucleases and ribonucleases, are found in blood, which helps in the degradation of exogenous deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid circulating in blood.