CPA4

CPA4, or membrane-bound carboxypeptidase, distinguishes itself within the carboxypeptidase A subfamily by its tight association with the cell surface rather than secretion into digestive juice. It is a zinc metalloenzyme with metallocarboxypeptidase activity toward C-terminal aliphatic and aromatic residues of small peptide substrates. CPA4 is highly expressed in prostate and is markedly upregulated in hormone-refractory prostate cancer, where it has been proposed to support androgen-independent growth and has attracted interest as a biomarker and therapeutic target. Expression is also observed in other tissues and tumor types, and recombinant CPA4 supports studies of extracellular peptide processing in cancer biology.