Cathepsin B: multiple enzyme forms from a single gene and their relation to cancer.

Abstract

Overexpression and altered trafficking of cathepsin B characterize the malignant phenotype of tumor cells. Human cathepsin B is encoded by a single-copy gene located on chromosome 8p22. With its 13 exons, the gene encompasses at least 27 kb of DNA. Expression of cathepsin B can be regulated at transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. Multiple cathepsin B mRNA species arising from alternative splicing may be related to tissue- and tumor-specific differences in expression. There is selective overexpression, increased activity, membrane association and secretion of cathepsin B in many etiologically different cancers. This suggests that cathepsin B may play a functional role in malignant progression. Recent clinical studies provide confirmatory evidence in that cathepsin B expression is a prognostic indicator in colon carcinoma.

• Authors: D Keppler, B F Sloane
• Journal: Enzyme & protein (Enzyme Protein) Vol. 49 Issue 1-3 Pg. 94-105 ( 1996) ISSN: 1019-6773 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 8797000 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S., Review)

Chemical References

• Enzyme Precursors
• Isoenzymes
• procathepsin B
• Cathepsin B

Topics

• Alternative Splicing
• Cathepsin B (biosynthesis, chemistry, genetics, metabolism)
• Chromosome Mapping
• Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8
• Enzyme Precursors (biosynthesis, metabolism)
• Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
• Humans
• Isoenzymes (chemistry, genetics)