Proteases in Physiology and Pathology

Using a multidisciplinary approach, this book describes the biochemical mechanisms associated with dysregulation of proteases and the resulting pathophysiological consequences. It highlights the role and regulation of different types of proteases as well as their synthetic and endogenous inhibitors. The role of proteases was initially thought to be limited to general metabolic digestion. However, we now know that the role of protein breakdown is much more complex, and proteases have multiple functions: they are coupled to turnover and can affect protein composition, function and synthesis. In addition to eliminating abnormal proteins, breakdown has many modulatory functions, including activating and inactivating enzymes, modulating membrane function, altering receptor channel properties, affecting transcription and cell cycles and forming active peptides. The ubiquity of proteases in nature makes them an important target for drug development.

This in-depth, comprehensive is a valuable resource for researchers involved in identifying new targets for drug development. With its multidisciplinary scope, it bridges the gap between fundamental and translational research in the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries, making it thought-provoking reading for scientists in the field.

Physiological and Pathological Functions of Mitochondrial Proteases.- The Role of MMP2 and 9 in Embryonic Neural Crest Cells and their Derivatives.- The matrix metalloproteinase and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase balance in physiologicaland pathological remodeling of skeletal muscles.- Role of BMP1/ tolloid like proteases in bone morphogenesis and tissue remodeling.- Role of proteases in the regulation of N-myristoyltransferase.- Role of Tissue Factor-FVIIa Blood Coagulation Initiation complex in Cancer.- Metalloproteases in adaptive cell responses.- Proteases from protozoa and their role in infection.-Regulation of Extracellular Matrix Remodeling and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition by Matrix Metalloproteinases: Decisive Candidates in Tumor Progression.- Proteases and Protease Inhibitors in Male Reproduction.- Physiological and Pathological Functions of Cysteine Cathepsins.- Role of serine proteases and inhibitors in cancer.- Role of Proteases in diabetes and diabetic complications.- Plant Latex Proteases: Natural Wound Healers.- Emerging Role of Mitochondrial Serine Protease HtrA2 in Neurodegeneration.- Functional Relevance of Deubiquitinases in Life and Disease.- Sub-Mitochondrial Calpains in Pathophysiological Consequences.- Serine Proteases in the Lectin Pathway of the Complement System.- Pups, SAMPs and Prokaryotic Proteasomes.- Role of Proteases in Photoaging of Skin.- Insect proteases: Structural-functional outlook.- Protease-antiprotease interactions: an overview of the process from an in silico perspective.- Snake venom proteases as toxins and tools.- The world of the proteases across micros, insects and medicinal trees.- Insight into the mode of interactions between bacterial proteases and their substrates.- The Ubiquitin Proteasome System with itsChecks and Balances.- A brief account of structure function relationship of the traditional cysteine protease inhibitor-cystatin with a special focus on human family 1 & 2 cystatins.- Solid Support Synthesis of a Dnp-labeled Peptide for Assay of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2.

Dr. Sajal Chakraborti is a senior Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Kalyani, West Bengal, India. His research covers the role of proteases in regulating pulmonary vascular tone under oxidant and calcium signaling phenomena. He has been engaged in teaching and research in biochemistry for the past 40 years.

Dr. Naranjan S Dhalla is a distinguished Professor at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. His expertise includes the subcellular and molecular basis of heart function in health and disease. He has been engaged in multidisciplinary research and education for promoting the scientific basis of cardiology, as well as training of professional manpower for combating heart disease for over 45 years.