Two Distinct Gene Subfamilies Within the Family of Cysteine Protease Genes

Authors

Kathleen M. Karrer, Marquette UniversityFollow
Stacia L. Peiffer, Marquette University
Michele E. DiTomas, Marquette University

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Format of Original

5 p.

Publication Date

4-1993

Publisher

National Academy of Sciences

Source Publication

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Source ISSN

0027-8424

Original Item ID

10.1073/pnas.90.7.3063

Abstract

A cDNA clone for a physiologically regulated Tetrahymena cysteine protease gene was sequenced. The nucleotide sequence predicts that the clone encodes a 336-amino acid protein composed of a 19-residue N-terminal signal sequence followed by a 107-residue propeptide and a 210-residue mature protein. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of the protein with those of other cysteine proteases revealed a highly conserved interspersed amino acid motif in the propeptide region of the protein, the ERFNIN motif. The motif was present in all of the cysteine proteases in the data base with the exception of the cathepsin B-like proteins, which have shorter propeptides. Differences in the propeptides and in conserved amino acids of the mature proteins suggest that the ERFNIN proteases and the cathepsin B-like proteases constitute two distinct subfamilies within the cysteine proteases.

Comments

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 90, No. 7 (April 1993): 3063-3067. DOI.

Recommended Citation

Karrer, Kathleen M.; Peiffer, Stacia L.; and DiTomas, Michele E., "Two Distinct Gene Subfamilies Within the Family of Cysteine Protease Genes" (1993). Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications. 242.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/bio_fac/242