Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid sequence which encodes a novel protein, where the protein is a new member in a family of enzymes with peptidase activity. Also provided is the use of the nucleic acid sequence and/or protein in medicine and research, a method for diagnosing, or determining predisposition to disease, methods for preventing or treating disease, and kits for use in the methods and the use of the nucleic acid sequence, protein and inhibitors thereof in treating or preventing inflammatory diseases, and in screens for identifying new inhibitors. Also provided are nucleic acid expression vectors, host cells, screens and non-human transgenic animals.