Human Cathepsin A/Lysosomal Carboxypeptidase A Antibody

Cathepsin A/lyososomal carboxypeptidase A is a member of the serine carboxypeptidase family (1). Cathepsin A is a multifunctional enzyme that expresses deaminidase and esterase activities at neutral pH and carboxypeptidase activity at acidic pH. Also known as protective protein, its association with beta -galactosidase ( beta -gal) and neuraminidase is essential for beta -gal stability and neuraminidase activation in the lysosomes. Inherited deficiency of Cathepsin A causes the lysosomal storage disorder galactosialidosis, characterized by a combined secondary deficiency of beta -gal and neuraminidase. Cathepsin A is capable of hydrolyzing a variety of bioactive peptide hormones including tachykinins, indicating that extralysosomal Cathepsin A plays a role in regulation of functions of these molecules (2). Cathepsin A is synthesized as a single-chain precursor and processed into heavy (32 kDa) and light (20 kDa) chains, which are linked by disulfide bonds.