KLK4
Encyclopedia
Kallikrein-related peptidase 4 is a protein
which in humans is encoded by the KLK4 gene
.
Kallikrein
s are a subgroup of serine protease
s having diverse physiological functions. Growing evidence suggests that many kallikreins are implicated in carcinogenesis
and some have potential as novel cancer and other disease biomarkers. In particular, they may serve as biomarkers for both prostate cancer and breast cancer.
This gene is one of the fifteen kallikrein subfamily members located in a cluster on chromosome 19. In some tissues its expression is hormonally regulated. The expression pattern of a similar mouse protein in murine developing teeth supports a role for the protein in the degradation of enamel proteins. Alternate splice variants for this gene have been described, but their biological validity has not been determined.
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
which in humans is encoded by the KLK4 gene
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
.
Kallikrein
Kallikrein
Kallikreins are a subgroup of serine proteases, enzymes capable of cleaving peptide bonds in proteins. In humans, plasma kallikrein has no known homologue, while tissue kallikrein-related peptidases encode a family of fifteen closely related serine proteases...
s are a subgroup of serine protease
Serine protease
Serine proteases are enzymes that cleave peptide bonds in proteins, in which serine serves as the nucleophilic amino acid at the active site.They are found ubiquitously in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes...
s having diverse physiological functions. Growing evidence suggests that many kallikreins are implicated in carcinogenesis
Carcinogenesis
Carcinogenesis or oncogenesis is literally the creation of cancer. It is a process by which normal cells are transformed into cancer cells...
and some have potential as novel cancer and other disease biomarkers. In particular, they may serve as biomarkers for both prostate cancer and breast cancer.
This gene is one of the fifteen kallikrein subfamily members located in a cluster on chromosome 19. In some tissues its expression is hormonally regulated. The expression pattern of a similar mouse protein in murine developing teeth supports a role for the protein in the degradation of enamel proteins. Alternate splice variants for this gene have been described, but their biological validity has not been determined.
External Links
- The MEROPSMeropsMerops may refer to:* Merops , a genus of bee-eaters.* MEROPS, an on-line database for peptidases.It may also refer to several figures from Greek mythology:* King of Ethiopia, husband of Clymene, who lay with Helios and bore Phaethon...
online database for peptidases and their inhibitors: S01.251