Cytosol nonspecific dipeptidase

Cytosolic non-specific dipeptidase also known as carnosine dipeptidase 2 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the CNDP2 gene. This enzyme catalyses the hydrolysis of dipeptides, preferentially those containing hydrophobic amino acids. The human enzyme uses manganese ions as a cofactor. In addition to its function as a peptidase, the enzyme also functions to generate N-lactoyl amino acids, such as N-lactoyl-phenylalanine, via the process of "reverse proteolysis". A similar pathway conjugates amino acids to Beta-hydroxybutyric acid.