Biomaterial Database

Cathepsin B. 1997

J S Mort, and D J Buttle

Joint Diseases Laboratory, Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Cathepsin B is a lysosomal cysteine protease of the papain family. It functions in intracellular protein catabolism and in certain situations may also be involved in other physiological processes, such as processing of antigens in the immune response, hormone activation and bone turnover. There is also evidence that cathepsin B is implicated in the pathology of chronic inflammatory diseases of airways and joints, and in cancer and pancreatitis. In this short review we outline the major structural features of the enzyme, and describe how these relate to its synthesis, trafficking, processing and function.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008958	Models, Molecular	Models used experimentally or theoretically to study molecular shape, electronic properties, or interactions; includes analogous molecules, computer-generated graphics, and mechanical structures.	Molecular Models,Model, Molecular,Molecular Model
D002401	Cathepsin B	A lysosomal cysteine proteinase with a specificity similar to that of PAPAIN. The enzyme is present in a variety of tissues and is important in many physiological and pathological processes. In pathology, cathepsin B has been found to be involved in DEMYELINATION; EMPHYSEMA; RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, and NEOPLASM INVASIVENESS.	Cathepsin B-Like Proteinase,Cathepsin B1,Cathepsin B Like Proteinase,Proteinase, Cathepsin B-Like
D002403	Cathepsins	A group of lysosomal proteinases or endopeptidases found in aqueous extracts of a variety of animal tissues. They function optimally within an acidic pH range. The cathepsins occur as a variety of enzyme subtypes including SERINE PROTEASES; ASPARTIC PROTEINASES; and CYSTEINE PROTEASES.	Cathepsin
D002451	Cell Compartmentation	A partitioning within cells due to the selectively permeable membranes which enclose each of the separate parts, e.g., mitochondria, lysosomes, etc.	Cell Compartmentations,Compartmentation, Cell,Compartmentations, Cell
D004792	Enzyme Precursors	Physiologically inactive substances that can be converted to active enzymes.	Enzyme Precursor,Proenzyme,Proenzymes,Zymogen,Zymogens,Precursor, Enzyme,Precursors, Enzyme
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia