Serine Proteases and Serine Protease Inhibitors

Abstract Serine proteases are among the largest group of proteolytic enzymes in the human genome that play vital roles in health and disease. Regulation of their activityin vivois mediated by a diverse group of serine protease inhibitors. An overview of the interplay between serine proteases and their inhibitors is provided. In addition, approaches to characterize this relationship are discussed with subsequent emphasis on how such measures apply to pathologies that result from defect of serine proteases or their inhibitors.