title: Species-specific distribution of cathepsin E in mammalian blood cells.
abstract: The distribution of cathepsins D and E in leukocytes and erythrocyte ghosts of several mammalian species, and in HL-60 and K-562 cells was examined by means of a combined application of electrophoretic and immunochemical methods. Cathepsin D was found in leukocytes of all species examined, but the distribution of cathepsin E was found to be species-specific: pigs, cows and goats had no cathepsin E activity in leukocytes or erythrocytes at all. In humans, cathepsin E occurred in erythrocytes but not in leukocytes, which contrasted with the guinea pig pattern of its presence in leukocytes and its absence in erythrocytes. No cathepsin E-related enzymes were found in HL-60 or K-562 cells, but these human leukemic cells contained cathepsin D-related enzyme forms that are electrophoretically distinct from normal leukocyte cathepsin D. The present results are inconsistent with the view that cathepsin E may be involved as an essential factor in the biological functions of leukocytes or erythrocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yonezawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000201:enzymology*; D002402:Cathepsin D / Q000097:blood; D020059:Cathepsin E; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000097:blood*; D002460:Cell Line; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000201:enzymology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000201:enzymology; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D002403:Cathepsins; D020059:Cathepsin E; D002402:Cathepsin D