Toulouse Lautrec
Cathepsin K and Heparin The power of simple sequence pattern analysis in predicting protein behavior is illustrated in the case of Cathepsin K, a papain-like cysteine protease, involved in many degenerative diseases, bone development and Pycnodysostosis (Toulouse-Lautrec syndrome.) Triplets of basic amino acids are typical of heparin binding proteins that are internalized. I admit that I am obsessed with inflammation and heparin. My daughters automatically yell out “Give him heparin!” when a patient on ER has a severe migraine attack. They think it is a good joke until the savvy doc reveals the latest approach and actually injects heparin with satisfying results. Heparin and inflammation are intimately involved and I predict that blood tests that determine the quality and quantity of protein-bound heparin, will ultimately be used as measures of chronic inflammation, as well as revealing a variety of diseases. I have a habit of examining the molecular basis of diseases that I...