Mouse cytosolic non-specific dipeptidase(CNDP2) is a cytoplasm protein which belongs to the peptidase M20A family. CNDP2 has 2 Isoform: Isoform 1 is ubiquitously expressed with higher levels in kidney and liver (at protein level). Isoform 2 is expressed in fetal tissues, it is only expressed in adult liver and placental tissues. CNDP2 hydrolyzes a variety of dipeptides including L-carnosine and has a strong preference for Cys-Gly. It is a cytosolic enzyme that can hydrolyze carnosine to yield l-histidine and beta-alanine. CNDP2 is highly expressed in the histaminergic neurons in the tuberomammillary nucleus, implying that it may supply histidine to histaminergic neurons for histamine synthesis. It may play a role as tumor suppressor in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells.
