AARE (Acylamino-acid-releasing enzyme) is also known as Acyl-peptide hydrolase. It catalyzes the hydrolysis of the terminal acetylated amino acid preferentially from small acetylated peptides. The acetyl amino acid formed by this hydrolase is further processed to acetate and a free amino acid by an aminoacylase. It can play an important role in destroying oxidatively damaged proteins in living cells. Deletions of this gene locus corresponding to the protein are found in various types of carcinomas, including small cell lung carcinoma and renal cell carcinoma.