Cathepsin B Antibody / CTSB

Cathepsin B is an enzymatic protein belonging to the peptidase or protease families. In humans, it is coded by the CTSB gene. The protein encoded by this gene is a lysosomal cysteine proteinase composed of a dimer of disulfide-linked heavy and light chains, both produced from a single protein precursor. It is a member of the peptidase C1 family. Cathepsin B was once suspected as a candidate protease participating in the conversion of beta-amyloid precursor protein into the amyloid plaques found in Alzheimers disease patients. However, this function is now known to be mediated by BACE1 protease. It is now thought that Cathepsin B can degrade beta-amyloid precursor protein into harmless fragments. Thus, it is conceivable cathepsin B may play a pivotal role in the natural defense against Alzheimers disease. Overexpression has been associated with esophageal adenocarcinoma and other tumors. At least five transcript variants encoding the same protein have been found for this gene.