Bovine, pig and horse leukocyte elastase inhibitors represent the first example of functionally active intracellular serpin. Sequence analysis yields data indicating that the reactive site encompasses P1-P'1 Ala-Met sequence. Oxidation of swine (as well as equine) inhibitor reduced its association rate constants kon with the tested enzymes (by at least 1 order of magnitude). However in case of bovine inhibitor, only a slight reduction has been observed for human neutrophil elastase but not for chymotrypsin or pancreatic elastase.