Members of this family are asparaginyl peptidases [1]. The blood fluke parasite Schistosoma mansoni has at least five Clan CA cysteine peptidases in its digestive tract including cathepsins B (2 isoforms), C, F and L. All have been recombinantly expr ...
Members of this family are asparaginyl peptidases [1]. The blood fluke parasite Schistosoma mansoni has at least five Clan CA cysteine peptidases in its digestive tract including cathepsins B (2 isoforms), C, F and L. All have been recombinantly expressed as active enzymes, albeit in various stages of activation [2]. In addition, a Clan CD peptidase, termed asparaginyl endopeptidase or 'legumain' has been identified. This has formerly been characterised as a 'haemoglobinase', but this term is probably incorrect [2]. Two cDNAs have been described for Schistosoma mansoni legumain; one encodes an active enzyme whereas the active site cysteine residue encoded by the second cDNA is substituted by an asparagine residue. Both forms have been recombinantly expressed [3].
This domain is found in the proenzyme form of Vacuolar-processing enzyme (VPE), known as legumain. VPE is an asparagine-specific endopeptidase that plays important roles in many physiological processes, including the maturation of toll-like receptors ...
This domain is found in the proenzyme form of Vacuolar-processing enzyme (VPE), known as legumain. VPE is an asparagine-specific endopeptidase that plays important roles in many physiological processes, including the maturation of toll-like receptors 3/7/9. The mature active form of VPE is generated by autoproteolytic maturation at acidic pH. In the three-dimensional structure of the proenzyme, this prodomain is located on top of the protease domain, blocking access to the active site. It shows an entirely alpha-helical fold, with an activation peptide and a region that assemblies into a death domain-like fold at its C-terminal end [1-5].
