SYNONYMS
Ctsd, CatD, CD, Cathepsin D.
INTRODUCTION
Cathepsin D is synthesized as a 54kDa precursor, which is proteolytically processed to an intermediate 48kDa single chain, which matures into more stable 34kDa and 14kDa two chain form. It is an estrogen-regulated lysosomal protease that has been suggested to facilitate cancer cell migration and invasion by digesting the basement membrane, extracellular matrix, and xonnective tissue. Because of its mitogenic and proteolytic activities, it has been implicated as a prognostic marker in many tumor types. Cathepsin D is expressed in epithelial cells as well as in macrophages.
DESCRIPTION
CTSD produced in Sf9 Baculovirus cells is a single, glycosylated polypeptide chain containing 398 amino acids (21-410 a.a.) and having a molecular mass of 44.0kDa (Molecular size on SDS-PAGE will appear at approximately 40-57kDa). CTSD is expressed with an 8 amino acid His tag at C-Terminus and purified by proprietary chromatographic techniques.
