May contribute to the degradation of peptide hormones and be involved in the inactivation of neuronal peptides. Cleaves the synthetic substrate Z-Gly-Gly-Leu-pNA and releases pNA. May protect against C2-ceramide-induced apoptosis. Binds 1 zinc ion. Highly expressed in the CNS, in particular in neurons of the caudate putamen, diagonal band, the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus, part of the hypothalamus, in cranial motor nuclei, inferior olive, and substantia gelatinosa of the spinal tract trigeminal nucleus. Not detected in cerebral cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum. By mechanical damage to nerve cells. Belongs to the peptidase M13 family.