title: [The physiological and pathological function of Ca(2 +) -dependent cysteine protease (Calpain) ].
abstract: Calpains are Ca(2 +) -dependent cysteine proteases. Fifteen gene products of calpains are expressed in mammals. Among them, Calpain 1 and Calpain 2 are ubiquitously expressed and have been investigated extensively. Under the physiological conditions, calpain activity is strictly regulated by endogenous inhibitory protein, Calpastatin. Calpains are activated in the various cardiovascular diseases and implicated in their pathogenesis by degrading numerous target proteins. Here we briefly summarize the physiological and pathological role of calpains in the cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akazawa
authors.forename: Issei
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Komuro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002154:Calpain / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; C033668:calpastatin; D002154:Calpain; D002118:Calcium