Application

The enzyme from Sigma has been used in the activation of granzyme k (Gzmk) precursor from E. coli. Granzymes are granule-stored lymphocyte serine proteases that are implicated in T- and natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxic defense reactions.

Cathepsin C has been used in a study that demonstrated the potential of a proteomics approach to identify novel proteins expressed by extravillous trophoblast and to uncover the mechanisms leading to disease states in pregnancy. Cathepsin C has also been used in a study to evaluate biodegradable thermogels.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Cathespin C is a dipeptidyl aminopeptidase that can sequentially remove dipeptides from a peptide chain with an unsubstituted N-terminus. The enzyme exhibits a preference for glycine and proline as N-terminal aminoacids. Substrates that have an N-terminal lysyl or arginyl residue, or a penultimate proryl residue are not targeted by this enzyme. The endopeptidase activity requires the presence of halide ions and sulfydryl activators.

Caution

Unstable. Keep frozen.

Packaging

10, 25, 100 units in glass bottle

Physical form

Lyophilized from a 1 M sodium chloride solution.

Unit Definition

One unit will produce 1 µmole of Gly-Phe-NHOH from Gly-Phe-NH₂ and hydroxylamine per min at pH 6.8 at 37 °C using DL-phenylalanine hydroxamic acid as the standard. In addition to its hydrolytic properties, cathepsin C catalyzes the polymerization of dipeptide amides.