Description
Product Characteristics:
The cystatin superfamily is a well-established family of cysteine protease inhibitors. All true cystatins inhibit cysteine peptidases of the papain family, such as cathepsins, while some also inhibit legumain family enzymes. The CRES (cystatin-related epididymal spermatogenic) protein defines a new subgroup in the family 2 cystatins of the cystatin superfamily. CRES proteins lack two of the three consensus sites necessary for the cystatin inhibition of C1 cysteine proteases. They are also preferentially expressed in postmeiotic germ cells, the proximal caput epididymidis, and anterior pituitary gonadotrophs. Therefore, CRES proteins may perform unique and tissue-specific functions in the reproductive and neuroendocrine systems. As a member of the CRES subfamily, Cystatin-like 1 (CSTL1) is a 145 amino acid protein and is expressed in testis.
Subcellular location: Secreted
Synonyms: CST1L_HUMAN, CSTL1, CTES1, Cystatin-like 1, dJ322G13.4, RCET11.
Target Information: The cystatin superfamily encompasses proteins that contain multiple cystatin-like sequences. Some of the members are active cysteine protease inhibitors, while others have lost or perhaps never acquired this inhibitory activity. There are three inhibitory families in the superfamily, including the type 1 cystatins (stefins), type 2 cystatins and the kininogens. The type 2 cystatin proteins are a class of cysteine proteinase inhibitors found in a variety of human fluids and secretions. The cystatin locus on chromosome 20 contains the majority of the type 2 cystatin genes and pseudogenes. This gene is located at the telomeric end of the cystatin locus and encodes a type 2 cystatin-like protein. The specific function of this protein has not been determined