cathepsin

American  

[kuh-thep-sin] / kəˈθɛp sɪn /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. any of a class of intracellular proteolytic enzymes, occurring in animal tissue, especially the liver, spleen, kidneys, and intestine, that catalyze autolysis in certain pathological conditions and after death.

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cathepsin British  

/ kəˈθɛpsɪn /

noun

1. a proteolytic enzyme responsible for the autolysis of cells after death

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Other Word Forms

• catheptic adjective

Etymology

Origin of cathepsin

1925–30; < Greek kathéps(ein) to digest ( kat- cat- ( def. ) + hépsein to boil) + -in ²

Example Sentences

K11777 inhibits many cathepsin types, i.e. blocks their function.

From Science Daily

"In follow-up experiments, we proved our hypothesis that the compound prevents cathepsin L from cleaving and opening up the viral capsid," says Mara Klöhn.

From Science Daily

The clinical potential of this test was also demonstrated by the detection of cathepsin B, a protease related to colorectal cancer, in three different tumor cell lines obtained from patients.

From Science Daily

To determine whether cathepsin B might, in fact, be involved in brain health, the researchers added a little of the protein to living neurons in other petri dishes.

From New York Times

During that time, the concentrations of cathepsin B in the jogging animals and people steadily rose, the researchers found, and all of the runners began to perform better on various tests of memory and thinking.

From New York Times