Cathepsin D-E Activity Assay

Cathepsin D performs a variety of functions in the cell, including recycling of protein through autophagy, maturation of proteins by cleaving precursor proteins and apoptosis. Cathepsin D has a dual role with respect to apoptosis. On the one hand, under conditions of cellular stress such as DNA damage or oxidative stress, Cathepsin D is released from the lysosomes and activates apoptotic pathways by cleaving pro-apoptotic proteins. On the other hand, Cathepsin D can prevent apoptosis by regulating the stability and activity of anti-apoptotic proteins, inhibiting apoptotic pathways, enhancing cellular survival and tissue protection. AkrivisBio’s Cathepsin D Activity Assay is a simple, sensitive means of measuring Cathepsin D activity in a variety of biological samples with a sensitivity able to detect Cathepsin B in 500 cells or less.