Expression, purification, and characterization of human cystatin C monomers and oligomers.

ABSTRACT: Human cystatin C (cysC) is a soluble basic protein belonging to the cysteine protease inhibitor family. CysC is a potent inhibitor of cathepsins--proteolytic enzymes that degrade intracellular and endocytosed proteins, remodel extracellular matrix, and trigger apoptosis. Inhibition is via tight reversible binding involving the N-terminus as well as two β-hairpin loops of cysC. As a significant component of cerebrospinal fluid, cysC has numerous other functions, including support of neural stem cell growth and differentiation. Several studies suggest that cysC may bind to the Alzheimer-related protein beta-amyloid (Aβ), and inhibit its aggregation and toxicity. Because of an increasing recognition of its important biological roles, there is considerable interest in methods to produce full-l

SUBMITTER: Perlenfein TJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4684421 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature