cathepsin

From the German Kathepsin, derived from Ancient Greek καθέψω (kathépsō, “boil down”).

• IPA^(key): /kəˈθɛpsɪn/

cathepsin (plural cathepsins)

1. (biochemistry) Any of a family of proteases primarily active within lysosomes.
   • 1931, A Pirie, BE Holmes, “The cause of inactivation of the Rous sarcoma filtrate during incubation”, in British journal of experimental pathology:

     Grassmann and Dyckerhoff (1930) showed that cysteine and cyanide inhibited the action of ereptic aminopolyase, while they accelerated the action of proteases such as cathepsin.

• procathepsin

• pinches at, thin space