The effect of aluminum ions on the activity of proteolyic activities, mainly serine proteases and calpains, has been examined. Aluminum affects the biological activity of proteolytic activities either through a direct effect on the enzyme molecule or through a deregulation of the control mechanisms acting on them. Binding of the ion, most likely results in molecular rearrangements affecting both the substrates binding site and the site involved in the recognition of macromolecular inhibitors. As whole, the data reported clearly indicate that aluminum significatively affects the intracellular protein turnover, most likely triggering catastrophic events for the cellular life. The physiopathological significance of these effects has been discussed, in particular for neurological disorders (the Alzheimer's disease included) where an imbalance of proteolytic as well as antiproteolytic systems appears a crucial event both for the formation of neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles which are the major hallmarks of the disease. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.