Biomed. Papers 149(1), 43–50 (2005) 43 © M. Fusek, V. Větvička DUAL ROLE OF CATHEPSIN D: LIGAND AND PROTEASE Martin Fuseka, Václav Větvičkab* a Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, CAS, Prague, Czech Republic, and b University of Louisville, Department of Pathology, Louisville, KY40292, USA, e-mail:
[email protected] Received: April 15, 2005; Accepted (with revisions): June 20, 2005 Key words: Cathepsin D/Procathepsin D/Cancer/Activation peptide/Mitogenic activity/Proliferation Cathepsin D is peptidase belonging to the family of aspartic peptidases. Its mostly described function is intracel- lular catabolism in lysosomal compartments, other physiological effect include hormone and antigen processing. For almost two decades, there have been an increasing number of data describing additional roles imparted by cathepsin D and its pro-enzyme, resulting in cathepsin D being a specific biomarker of some diseases. These roles in pathological conditions, namely elevated levels in certain tumor tissues, seem to be connected to another, yet not fully understood functionality. However, despite numerous studies, the mechanisms of cathepsin D and its precursor’s actions are still not completely understood. From results discussed in this article it might be concluded that cathepsin D in its zymogen status has additional function, which is rather dependent on a “ligand-like” function then on proteolytic activity. CATHEPSIN D – MEMBER PRIMARY, SECONDARY AND TERTIARY OF ASPARTIC PEPTIDASES FAMILY STRUCTURES OF ASPARTIC PEPTIDASES Major function of cathepsin D is the digestion of There is a high degree of sequence similarity among proteins and peptides within the acidic compartment eukaryotic members of the family of aspartic peptidases, of lysosome1.