Calcium sensitive proteases

Calpain and cathepsin are calcium-sensitive proteases.  Calpains are a family of 14 cysteine proteases that are involved in a range of cellular processes, including remodeling of cytoskeletal attachments, proteolytic modification, degradation of enzymes, regulation of gene expression, substrate degradation and an involvement in long-term potentiation.  Cathepsins are lysosomal calcium-sensitive proteases that have a key role in cellular protein turnover, including, bone remodeling, keratinocyte differentiation, tumor progression and metastasis, osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis.

Further reading

Toyo-oka et al (1985) Ca overload and the action of calcium sensitive proteases, phospholipases and prostaglandin E2 in myocardial cell degradation. Basic Res. Cardiol. 80 303 PMID: 2992446

Mellgren (1987), Calcium‐dependent proteases: an enzyme system active at cellular membranes?. The FASEB J. 1 110  PMID: 2886390

Bhattacharyya et al (1991) Calcium-dependent and calcium-independent protease activities in skeletal muscle during sepsis. Circ. Shock. 35(2) 117 PMID: 1777946.