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Lysosomal Cysteine Proteases: Structural Features and their Role in Apoptosis
Author(s) -
Stoka Veronika,
Turk Boris,
Turk Vito
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
iubmb life
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.132
H-Index - 113
eISSN - 1521-6551
pISSN - 1521-6543
DOI - 10.1080/15216540500154920
Subject(s) - proteases , cathepsin , cysteine , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , apoptosis , function (biology) , enzyme , proteolytic enzymes , biochemistry , caspase , deubiquitinating enzyme , computational biology , programmed cell death , gene , ubiquitin
Among the variety of proteolytic enzymes enormous progress has been seen recently in our understanding of lysosomal cysteine proteases, also known as cysteine cathepsins. These enzymes play a crucial role in diverse biological processes in physiological and pathological states, including genetic diseases. In the present review, their properties and structural features that are important to an understanding of their biological function are presented. Special emphasis is given to the newly discovered role of lysosomal cathepsins in apoptotic pathways.IUBMB Life, 57: 347‐353, 2005