title: Purification and characterization of two different precursor forms of the cathepsin B-like proteinase from human malignant ascitic fluid.
abstract: We have purified two different precursors of a cathepsin B-like proteinase (PCBT) from malignant ascitic fluid. The molecular mass of these proteins were 45-47 kDa and 36 kDa, respectively. This report is the first which shows cathepsin-B precursors as purified proteins. By using sheep immunoglobulins directed against denatured lysosomal cathepsin B, we have found that both precursors, together with the 33-kDa pepsin generated cathepsin B-like proteinase, reacted in immunoblotting: the three components are thus cathepsin B-related. These antibodies allow us the show that during pepsin activation the 45-47 kDa precursor is converted to the 33-kDa cathepsin B-like proteinase together with the 36-kDa PCBT. We have also prepared sheep immunoglobulins directed against the 36-kDa precursor. The generation of the cathepsin B-like proteinase by pepsin digestion of purified precursors followed a time and dose dependent process. This latter result argues for activation through peptide bond cleavages.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biochimie, Faculté de Médecine, Broussais-Hôtel Dieu, Paris.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Keppler
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pagano
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dalet-Fumeron
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Engler
mesh_terms: D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000201:enzymology*; D002401:Cathepsin B / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D010434:Pepsin A / Q000378:metabolism; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
chemical_list: D002401:Cathepsin B; D010434:Pepsin A