title: Detection of procathepsin D in rat milk.
abstract: The presence of procathepsin D, a zymogen of the soluble lysosomal aspartic proteinase cathepsin D, was detected in rat milk using Western blot analysis and assay of proteolytic activity in acidic buffers. No other forms of cathepsin D were found. Two different polyclonal anti-procathepsin D antibodies were used for immunochemical detection of procathepsin D. Both antibodies we found to recognize rat procathepsin D. Proteolytic activity in acidic buffers was detected using a fluorogenic substrate specific for cathepsin D and was abolished by pepstatin A, a specific inhibitor of aspartic proteinases. This study represents third demonstration of presence of procathepsin D in mammal breast milk. Potential sources and physiological functions are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Benes
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koelsch
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dvorak
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fusek
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vetvicka
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002402:Cathepsin D / Q000032:analysis* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008892:Milk / Q000201:enzymology*; D010436:Pepstatins / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D016415:Sequence Alignment
chemical_list: D004792:Enzyme Precursors; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D010436:Pepstatins; C058345:procathepsin D; D002402:Cathepsin D; C031375:pepstatin