title: Kallikreins - The melting pot of activity and function.
abstract: The human tissue kallikrein and kallikrein-related peptidases (KLKs), encoded by the largest contiguous cluster of protease genes in the human genome, are secreted serine proteases with diverse expression patterns and physiological roles. Because of the broad spectrum of processes that are modulated by kallikreins, these proteases are the subject of extensive investigations. This review brings together basic information about the biochemical properties affecting enzymatic activity, with highlights on post-translational modifications, especially glycosylation. Additionally, we present the current state of knowledge regarding the physiological functions of KLKs in major human organs and outline recent discoveries pertinent to the involvement of kallikreins in cell signaling and in viral infections. Despite the current depth of knowledge of these enzymes, many questions regarding the roles of kallikreins in health and disease remain unanswered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland. Electronic address: magda.kalinska@uj.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalinska
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany. Electronic address: umeyerhoffert@dermatology.uni-kiel.de.
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Meyer-Hoffert
authors.affiliation: Malopolska Center of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland. Electronic address: tomasz.kantyka@uj.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kantyka
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland; University of Louisville School of Densitry, Oral Health and Systemic Disease, Louisville, USA. Electronic address: jan.potempa@uj.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Potempa
mesh_terms: D002888:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 19 / Q000235:genetics*; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D007610:Kallikreins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary
chemical_list: D007610:Kallikreins
keywords: EGF; Enzymatic activity; Glycosylation; Kallikrein; PSA; Serine proteases