catipepsinas
Catipepsinas, commonly referred to as cathepsins in English, are a family of proteolytic enzymes, primarily lysosomal cysteine proteases belonging to the C1 family. They are widely distributed in animal tissues and participate in the degradation of proteins delivered to lysosomes, helping to recycle amino acids and maintain cellular homeostasis. Most cathepsins operate best in the acidic environment of lysosomes, although some can be secreted or function in endosomes and, under certain conditions, in the extracellular space.
Physiological roles of cathepsins include intracellular protein turnover, remodeling of proteins within the endolysosomal system, and
Dysregulation or mislocalization of cathepsins is associated with various diseases. Elevated cathepsin activity has been linked
In research and clinical contexts, cathepsin activity and expression are explored as biomarkers and as potential