Cathepsin W (CTSW)

CTS-W; LYPN; Lymphopain

Cathepsin W (CTSW)
Cathepsins are proteases: proteins that break apart other proteins, found in many types of cells including those in all animals. There are approximately a dozen members of this family, which are distinguished by their structure, catalytic mechanism, and which proteins they cleave. Most of the members become activated at the low pH found in lysosomes. Thus, the activity of this family lies almost entirely within those organelles.
Cathepsin W is a member of the peptidase C1 family, is a cysteine proteinase that may have a specific function in the mechanism or regulation of T-cell cytolytic activity. The encoded protein is found associated with the membrane inside the endoplasmic reticulum of natural killer and cytotoxic T-cells. Expression of this gene is up-regulated by interleukin-2.

Organism species: Homo sapiens (Human)

Organism species: Mus musculus (Mouse)

Organism species: Rattus norvegicus (Rat)