CPA

CpA is an abbreviation used in various scientific and organizational contexts, and its meaning depends on the field and context in which it appears. The most common biological usage refers to carboxypeptidase A, a pancreatic exopeptidase that removes C-terminal amino acids from peptides and small substrates.

Carboxypeptidase A is a zinc-dependent metalloenzyme involved in protein digestion and peptide maturation. It is typically synthesized as a zymogen called procarboxypeptidase A and becomes active after proteolytic processing. The enzyme preferentially hydrolyzes hydrophobic C-terminal residues, contributing to the breakdown and remodeling of peptide substrates in the digestive system. In humans, the genes CPA1 and CPA2 encode pancreatic carboxypeptidase A1 and A2, respectively, with the two isoforms sharing general catalytic properties but differing in tissue distribution and regulation.

Beyond biochemistry, CpA can also be used in academic or organizational contexts to denote centers or colleges of public administration, such as Center for Public Administration or College of Public Administration. These uses are institution-specific and vary by country and university.

Because acronyms such as CpA can have multiple meanings, readers should rely on surrounding text to determine the intended sense. In scientific writing, capitalization and domain conventions help disambiguate CpA from related terms such as CPA (carboxypeptidase A) or CypA (cyclophilin A). When introducing the term, it is helpful to define the intended meaning to avoid confusion.