Cathepsin H, Human Liver (CTSH) Protein

The protein encoded by this gene is a lysosomal cysteine proteinase important in the overall degradation of lysosomal proteins. It is composed of a dimer of disulfide-linked heavy and light chains, both produced from a single protein precursor. The encoded protein, which belongs to the peptidase C1 protein family, can act both as an aminopeptidase and as an endopeptidase. Increased expression of this gene has been correlated with malignant progression of prostate tumors. [provided by RefSeq, Mar 2010]

CTSH: Important for the overall degradation of proteins in lysosomes. Belongs to the peptidase C1 family.

Protein type: EC 3.4.22.16; Protease

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 15q25.1

Cellular Component: extracellular space; lysosome; acrosome; cytosol; outer dense fiber

Molecular Function: peptidase activity; protein binding; HLA-A specific activating MHC class I receptor activity; protein self-association; cysteine-type endopeptidase activity; serine-type endopeptidase activity; endopeptidase activity; protein complex binding; caspase activator activity; aminopeptidase activity; kininogen binding; cysteine-type peptidase activity

Biological Process: caspase activation; adaptive immune response; response to retinoic acid; protein destabilization; membrane protein proteolysis; proteolysis; antigen processing and presentation; positive regulation of angiogenesis; positive regulation of cell proliferation; zymogen activation; spermatogenesis; surfactant homeostasis; metanephros development; immune response-regulating signal transduction; positive regulation of cell migration; T cell mediated cytotoxicity; negative regulation of apoptosis