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Current Protein & Peptide Science

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1389-2037
ISSN (Online): 1875-5550

Inhibition of Cysteine Protease Activity by NO-donors

Author(s): Paolo Ascenzi, Luca Salvati, Martino Bolognesi, Marco Colasanti, Fabio Polticelli and Giorgio Venturini

Volume 2, Issue 2, 2001

Page: [137 - 153] Pages: 17

DOI: 10.2174/1389203013381170

Price: $65

Abstract

Cysteine proteases represent a broad class of proteolytic enzymes widely distributed among living organisms. Although well known as typical lysosomal enzymes, cysteine proteases are actually recognized as multi-function enzymes, being involved in antigen processing and presentation, in membrane-bound protein cleavage, as well as in degradation of the cellular matrix and in processes of tissue remodeling. Very recently, it has been shown that the NO(-donor)-mediated chemical modification of the Cys catalytic residue of cysteine proteases, including Coxsackievirus and Rhinovirus cysteine proteases, cruzain, Leishmania infantum cysteine protease, falcipain, papain, as well as mammalian caspases, cathepsins and calpain, blocks the enzyme activity in vitro and in vivo. Here, inhibition of representative cysteine proteases by NO(-donors) is reviewed.

Keywords: Cysteine Protease Activity, membrane-bound protein, Rhinovirus 3C Protease, Cruzain, reservosomes, fluorescent S-nitroso, cathepsin-B catalytic, NO-donors, macromolecular nitrosylating agent


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