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The protein Cathepsin B has many molecular functions. Some of these functions include endopeptidase activity, cysteine-type endopeptidase activity, protein binding, peptidase activity, cysteine-type peptidase activity, hydrolase activity, kininogen binding, and peptide binding.

== Mechanism of Action ==

[[Image:Alzheimers.JPG | thumb]]

One very crucial function of cathepsin B that I would like to emphasize on is its ability to break down the proteins that cause amyloid plaque, the root cause of Alzheimer’s systems. So, Cathepsin B has a built in protective mechanism against Alzheimer’s disease. Cathepsin B functions by “snipping” apart proteins which are closely associated with the amyloid protein that forms the amyloid plaques. Once, Cathepsin B breaks down these amyloid plaques, it signals other enzymes to further degrade the protein. An experiment was conducted in which a group of researchers found that cutting out the Cathepsin B gene increased the plaque deposition in mice with Alzheimers disease symptoms. The mice showed the human form of amyloid precursor protein (APP). These researchers also discovered that Cathepsin B piled up within the amyloid plaques and that it acted to decrease levels in neurons. The researchers also found that introducing a pathological form APP called APP1-42 into the neurons drastically increased cathepsin B in young and middle aged mice with human APP, but not old mice. From this observation, the researchers concluded that the upregulation of Cathepsin B could represent a protective mechanism that fails with aging and a failure like this could mean that it plays a role in late-onset sporadic Alzheimer’s disease.

== Medical Implications or Possible Application ==

== References ==

Sandbox Reserved 484: Difference between revisions

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@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 The protein Cathepsin B has many molecular functions.  Some of these functions include endopeptidase activity, cysteine-type endopeptidase activity, protein binding, peptidase activity, cysteine-type peptidase activity, hydrolase activity, kininogen binding, and peptide binding.
 == Mechanism of Action ==
+[[Image:Alzheimers.JPG | thumb]]
+One very crucial function of cathepsin B that I would like to emphasize on is its ability to break down the proteins that cause amyloid plaque, the root cause of Alzheimer’s systems. So, Cathepsin B has a built in protective mechanism against Alzheimer’s disease.  Cathepsin B functions by “snipping” apart proteins which are closely associated with the amyloid protein that forms the amyloid plaques. Once, Cathepsin B breaks down these amyloid plaques, it signals other enzymes to further degrade the protein.  An experiment was conducted in which a group of researchers found that cutting out the Cathepsin B gene increased the plaque deposition in mice with Alzheimers disease symptoms.  The mice showed the human form of  amyloid precursor protein (APP).  These researchers also discovered that Cathepsin B piled up within the amyloid plaques and that it acted to decrease levels in neurons.  The researchers also found that introducing a pathological form APP called APP1-42 into the neurons drastically increased cathepsin B in young and middle aged mice with human APP, but not old mice.  From this observation, the researchers concluded that the upregulation of Cathepsin B could represent a protective mechanism that fails with  aging and a failure like this could mean that it plays a role in late-onset sporadic Alzheimer’s disease.
 == Medical Implications or Possible Application ==
 == References ==