BLMH is affiliate to the papain superfamily of the cysteine protease and the peptidase C1 family. BLMH is a cytoplasmic cysteinepeptidase usually found as a homohexamer. The standard physiological role of BLMH has not been determined, but it shields normal and malignant cells from the glycopeptide antitumor drug BLM. BLMH catalyzes the inactivation of the antitumor drug BLM (a glycopeptide) by hydrolyzing the carboxyamide bond of its B-aminoalaninamide moiety and in addition demonstrates general aminopeptidase activity.
BLMH produced in E.Coli is a single, non-glycosylated polypeptide chain containing 475 amino acids (1-455a.a.) and having a molecular mass of 54.7kDa.
BLMH is fused to a 20 amino acid His-tag at N-terminus & purified by proprietary chromatographic techniques.