Peptidases are grouped into clans and families. Clans are groups of families for which there is evidence of common ancestry. Each clan is identified with two letters, the first representing the catalytic type of the families included in the clan (with the letter 'P' being used for a clan containing families of more than one of the catalytic types serine, threonine and cysteine). Some families cannot yet be assigned to clans, and when a formal assignment is required, such a family is described as belonging to clan A-, C-, M-, S-, T- or U-, according to the catalytic type. Some clans are divided into subclans because there is evidence of a very ancient divergence within the clan, for example MA(E), the gluzincins, and MA(M), the metzincins.

Families are grouped by their catalytic type, the first character representing the catalytic type: A, aspartic; C, cysteine; G, glutamic acid; M, metallo; S, serine; T, threonine; and U, unknown. The serine, threonine and cysteine peptidases utilise the catalytic part of an amino acid as a nucleophile and form an acyl intermediate - these peptidases can also readily act as transferases. In the case of aspartic, glutamic and metallopeptidases, the nucleophile is an activated water molecule.

Peptidases are grouped into clans and families. Clans are groups of families for which there is evidence of common ancestry. Families are grouped by their catalytic type, the first character representing the catalytic type: A, aspartic; C, cysteine; G, glutamic acid; M, metallo; S, serine; T, threonine; and U, unknown. A clan that contains families of more than one type is described as being of type P. The serine, threonine and cysteine peptidases utilise the catalytic part of an amino acid as a nucleophile and form an acyl intermediate - these peptidases can also readily act as transferases. In the case of aspartic, glutamic and metallopeptidases, the nucleophile is an activated water molecule.

Threonine peptidases are characterized by a threonine nucleophile at the N terminus of the mature enzyme. The type example for this clan is the archaean proteasome beta component of Thermoplasma acidophilum.

Threonine peptidases are characterised by a threonine nucleophile at the N terminus of the mature enzyme. The threonine peptidases belong to clan PB or are unassigned, clan T-. The type example for this clan is the archaean proteasome beta component of Thermoplasma acidophilum.

This group of sequences have a signature that places them in MEROPS peptidase family T2 (clan PB(T)). The glycosylasparaginases (EC: 3.5.1.26) are threonine peptidases. Also in this family is L-asparaginase (EC: 3.5.1.1), which catalyses the following reaction: L-asparagine + H₂O = L-aspartate + NH₃

Glycosylasparaginase catalyses: N4-(beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminyl)-L-asparagine + H(2)O = N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminylamine + L-aspartate cleaving the GlcNAc-Asn bond that links oligosaccharides to asparagine in N-linked glycoproteins. The enzyme is composed of two non-identical alpha/beta subunits joined by strong non-covalent forces and has one glycosylation site located in the alpha subunit [PMID:8877373] and plays a major role in the degradation of glycoproteins.