A new subgroup of the family 2 cystatins.
The cystatins are a superfamily of cysteine protease inhibitors. Several genes including Cres (cystatin-related epididymal spermatogenic), testatin, and cystatin T, have been identified that are related to the family 2 cystatins but lack critical consensus sites important for cysteine protease inhibition. In addition, these genes are primarily expressed in the reproductive tract suggesting they may have evolved to perform tissue-specific functions distinct from that of the typical cystatins. This review describes the CRES subgroup within the family 2 cystatins including potential new members and their putative functions in the reproductive tract.
Cornwall
Gail A
GA
Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock 79430, USA. gail.cornwall@ttuhsc.edu
Hsia
Nelson
N
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015891:Cystatins / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
C485490:CST9L protein, human; C472453:Cst11 protein, mouse; C472454:Cst12 protein, mouse; C116163:Cst9 protein, mouse; C474057:Cstdc1 protein, mouse; D015891:Cystatins