Biological Functions of Proteases and Inhibitors

Proteases are involved in various physiological regulatory mechanisms as well as in diverse pathological processes. Well understood examples are the blood clotting and complement pathways and the fibrinolytic system. Considerable interest has recently been focused on the involvement of proteases in tumour progression and viral infections. The importance of both the proteases and their inhibitors in human physiology and pathology are increasingly being recognized. This volume presents the latest findings in the field. Chapters are included on cell biological functions of membrane-bound proteases, the relationship between limited proteolysis and the processing of biologically active proteins, and tertiary structures of proteases and their protein inhibitors.

Table of Contents:
Part 1 Physiological roles of protease: participation of lysosomal cathepsins in antigen processing and bone resorption, N. Katunuma; the refined X-ray crystal structures of human and rat liver cathepsin B, W. Bode et al; a novel calpain species, n-calpain, active at nM levels of calcium?, H. Sorimachi and K. Suzuki; human cysteine proteinases and their inhibitors, stefins and cystatins, V. Turk and W. Bode; molecular recognition of proteases associated with cascade reactions, M. Sasaki and I. Ohkubo; the expression and structure of rat cystatin beta gene, N. Sato et al; meprins and other members of the "Astacin Family" of metalloendopeptidases, W. Jiang and J.S. Bond; biosynthesis, processing, and localization of cathepsin E, K. Yamamoto et al; proteasome and ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis, K. Tanaka and A. Ichihara; turnover of heat-shock proteins, H. Holzer et al. Part 2 Pathogenesis and protease: alterations in processing and trafficking of cathepsin B during malignant progression, B.F. Sloane et al; viral proteases - a personal odyssey, B.D. Korant; proteolysis-induced pathomechanisms in acute inflammation and related therapeutic approaches, M. Jochum et al; neutral proteases of human mast cells, L.B. Schwartz; a processing protease for gp 160 HIV-1 envelope glyco-protein precursor in human T4+ lymphocytes, H. Kido et al; fibrinogen - a plasma protein of many functions, E.W. Davie et al; mechanisms for alteration of the proteinase-proteinase inhibitor balance in tissues, J. Travis; snake venom haemorrhagic and non-haemorrhagic metalloproteinases - their structure and function relationships, H. Takeya and S. Iwanaga; inactivation and fragmentation of alpha 1-protease inhibitor by Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase and hydrogen peroxide via liberation of hydroxyl radical, H. Maeda et al.