This enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of the N-terminal peptide bond of an N-acetylated peptide to generate an N-acetylated amino acid and a peptide with a free N-terminus (PubMed:10719179, PubMed:1740429, PubMed:2006156). It preferentially cleaves off Ac-Ala, Ac-Met and Ac-Ser (By similarity). Also, involved in the degradation of oxidized and glycated proteins (PubMed:10719179).
