CTSL1, CTSL, Cathepsin L1, Major excreted protein, MEP
The protein encoded by this gene is a lysosomal cysteine proteinase that plays a major role in intracellular protein catabolism. Its substrates include collagen and elastin, as well as alpha-1 protease inhibitor, a major controlling element of neutrophil elastase activity. The encoded protein has been implicated in several pathologic processes, including myofibril necrosis in myopathies and in myocardial ischemia, and in the renal tubular response to proteinuria. This protein, which is a member of the peptidase C1 family, is a dimer composed of disulfide-linked heavy and light chains, both produced from a single protein precursor. Multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Apr 2012],catalytic activity:Specificity close to that of papain. As compared to cathepsin B, cathepsin L exhibits higher activity toward protein substrates, but has little activity on Z-Arg-Arg-NHMec, and no peptidyl-dipeptidase activity.,function:Important for the overall degradation of proteins in lysosomes.,similarity:Belongs to the peptidase C1 family.,subunit:Dimer of a heavy and a light chain linked by disulfide bonds.,
