Kathepszinok
Kathepszinok, in English commonly called cathepsins, are a family of proteolytic enzymes largely confined to lysosomes where they participate in the degradation and turnover of proteins. They play key roles in intracellular protein recycling, endocytosis, and autophagy, helping to maintain cellular homeostasis and respond to nutrient stress or damage.
The cathepsin family is diverse and includes several classes. Most members are cysteine proteases of the papain
Biogenesis and regulation: Cathepsins are typically synthesized as inactive zymogens (procathepsins) and are trafficked to the
Physiological and pathological roles: In healthy tissue, cathepsins contribute to general protein turnover and antigen processing
Genetics and research: Human cathepsins are encoded by genes such as CTSB, CTSL, CTSK, CTSD, CTSG, and