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Chitinase is a digestive enzyme which breaks down glycosidic bonds in chitin. Due to chitin being a component of the cell walls of fungi and exoskeletal elements of some animals (including worms and arthropods), chitinases are usually found in organisms that either need to remake their own chitin or to dissolve and digest the chitin of fungi or animals. Chitinivorous organisms include many bacteria genuses such as Aeromonas, Bacillus, Vibrio, among others, which may be pathogenic or detritivorous. Chitinase expression is mediated by the NPR1 gene and the salicylic acid pathway, both of which are involved in resisting fungal and insect attack. Human chitinases appear in gastric juices. They are likely to be digestive chitinases, for catabolic activity. Chitinase activity is identified systemically in humans, in the blood, and possibly cartilage. Chitinase has been related to allergies, asthma in particular has been linked to enhanced chitinase expression levels, also dust mites and mold spores which are both chitin covered.

Chitinase 3-Like 1 (CHI3L1) catalyze the hydrolysis of chitin that is an abundant glycopolymer present in insect exoskeletons and fungal cell walls. The glycoside hydrolase 18 family of chitinases comprises 8 human family members. CHI3L1 belongs to the glycosyl hydrolase 18 family. CHI3L1 lacks chitinase activity and is secreted by activated macrophages, chondrocytes, neutrophils and synovial cells. CHI3L1 takes part in the process of inflammation and tissue remodeling.

Chitinase 3-Like 2 (CHI3L2) is similar to bacterial chitinases but lacks chitinase activity. CHI3L2 protein is secreted and is involved in cartilage biogenesis. CHI3L2 is a lectin, which binds chitooligosaccharides and other glycans with high affinity, but not heparin.

Chitinase 3-Like 1 (CHI3L1) catalyze the hydrolysis of chitin that is an abundant glycopolymer present in insect exoskeletons and fungal cell walls. The glycoside hydrolase 18 family of chitinases comprises 8 human family members. CHI3L1 belongs to the glycosyl hydrolase 18 family. CHI3L1 lacks chitinase activity and is secreted by activated macrophages, chondrocytes, neutrophils and synovial cells. CHI3L1 takes part in the process of inflammation and tissue remodeling.

Chitinase 3-Like 2 (CHI3L2) is similar to bacterial chitinases but lacks chitinase activity. CHI3L2 protein is secreted and is involved in cartilage biogenesis. CHI3L2 is a lectin, which binds chitooligosaccharides and other glycans with high affinity.

Chitodextrinase is a unique membrane-bound endoenzyme. The chitodextrinase enzyme cleaves soluble oligomers, but not chitin, to the di- and trisaccharides. Chitodextrinase is unable to solubilize chitin, but it can catalyze the hydrolysis of high to low molecular weight soluble chitin oligosaccharides.

Chitinase 3-Like 2 (CHI3L2) is similar to bacterial chitinases but lacks chitinase activity. CHI3L2 protein is secreted and is involved in cartilage biogenesis. CHI3L2 is a lectin, which binds chitooligosaccharides and other glycans with high affinity, but not heparin.

CTSW protein belongs to the peptidase C1 family. CTSW is a cysteine proteinase with a detailed role in the regulation and mechanism of T-cell cytolytic activity. The encoded CTSW is linked to the membrane inside the endoplasmic reticulum of natural killer and cytotoxic T-cells. CTSW expression is up-regulated by interleukin-2.

Cathepsin-Z (CTSZ) is a lysosomal cysteine proteinase and a member of the peptidase C1 family. CTSZ, which is known also as cathepsin X and cathepsin P, exhibits carboxy-monopeptidase and carboxy-dipeptidase activities. CTSZ is expressed ubiquitously in cancer cell lines and primary tumors and as other members of this family, takes part in tumorigenesis.

Cathepsin D is synthesized as a 54kDa precursor, which is proteolytically processed to an intermediate 48kDa single chain, which matures into more stable 34kDa and 14kDa two chain form. It is an estrogen-regulated lysosomal protease that has been suggested to facilitate cancer cell migration and invasion by digesting the basement membrane, extracellular matrix, and xonnective tissue. Because of its mitogenic and proteolytic activities, it has been implicated as a prognostic marker in many tumor types. Cathepsin D is expressed in epithelial cells as well as in macrophages.

Heparanase is an endo β-D-glucuronidase, which degrades heparan sulfate side chains of heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) in the extracellular matrix. Heparanase plays an important role in ECM degradation, facilitating the migration and extravasation of tumor cells and inflammatory leukocytes (1,2,3). Upon degradation, heparanase releases growth factors and cytokines that stimulate cell proliferation and chemotaxis (4,5). Heparanase is a heterodimer comprised of a 50 kDa subunit harboring the active site and a 8 kDa subunit. It is produced as a latent 65 kDa precursor and proteolytically processed to its active form (1,6). Heparanase is highly expressed in myeloid leukocytes (i.e. neutrophils) in platelets and in human placenta. Human heparanase was found to be upregulated in various types of primary tumors, correlating in some cases with increased tumor invasiveness and vascularity and with poor prospective survival (7,8).

Cathepsin-Z (CTSZ) is a lysosomal cysteine proteinase and a member of the peptidase C1 family. CTSZ, which is known also as cathepsin X and cathepsin P, exhibits carboxy-monopeptidase and carboxy-dipeptidase activities. CTSZ is expressed ubiquitously in cancer cell lines and primary tumors and as other members of this family, takes part in tumorigenesis.

HPSE also known as Heparanase-1 is an enzyme which cleaves heparan sulfate proteoglycans to allow cell movement through changing the extracellular matrix. In fact, the Heparan sulfate proteoglycans are major components of the basement membrane and extracellular matrix. In addition, this cleavage can release bioactive molecules from the extracellular matrix. HPSE is significant for the overall degradation of proteins in lysosomes.

Cathepsin-E also known as CTSE is a gastric aspartyl protease which functions as a disulfide-linked homodimer. CTSE belongs to the peptidase C1 family; furthermore it has specificity similar to pepsin A and cathepsin D. CTSE is an intracellular proteinase which does not seem to be involved in the digestion of dietary protein and is found in the uppermost concentration in the surface of epithelial mucus-producing cells of the stomach. CTSE is the first aspartic proteinaseexpressed in the fetal stomach and is discovered in more than half of gastric cancers. For that reason CTSE is anoncofetal antigen. In addition, transcript variants utilizing alternative polyadenylation signals and two transcript variantsencoding different isoforms exist for this gene.

Aspartylglucosaminidase, also known as AGA, takes part in the catabolism of Nlinked oligosaccharides of glycoproteins. AGA is a protein coding gene which cleaves asparagine from N-acetylglucosamines in the lysosomal breakdown of glycoproteins.

Cystathionine gamma-lyase or cystathionase (CTH) is a member of the trans-sulfuration enzymes family. CTH is an enzyme which breaks down cystathionine into cysteine and alpha-ketobutyrate. The CTH catalyzes the last step in the transsulfuration pathway from methionine to cysteine. Glutathione synthesis in the liver is dependent upon the availability of cysteine. Mutations in the CTH gene cause cystathioninuria.

ASRGL1 is a 308 amino acid protein which is a member of the Ntn-hydrolase family. ASRGL1 is an autoantigenic protein which is present in the mid-piece of sperm after obstruction of the male reproductive tract. ASRGL1 is expressed highly in the testis, but is also expressed in the brain, kidney and gastrointestinal tissues. High levels of ASRGL1 are also detected in ovarian, uterine and mammary tumors in comparison with normal tissues of the same origin.

Cathepsin-A (CTSA) is a protective protein which is crucial for both the activity of beta-galactosidase and neuraminidase, CTSA associates with these enzymes and exerts a protective function required for their stability and activity. The CTSA protein is also a carboxypeptidase and can deamidate tachykinins. CTSA is a component of the lysosomal multienzyme complex along with beta-galactosidase and sialidase Neu1. CTSA is a multicatalytic enzyme with deamidase and esterase in addition to carboxypeptidase activities.

L-Asparaginase is an enzyme that depletes L-Asparagine "an important nutrient for cancer cells" resulting in cancer/tumor cell starvation. L-asparaginase is an anti-tumor agent derived from E.coli.,which can inhibit the growth of malignant cells. It is used mainly for the induction of remission in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Because of the lymph node origin of malignant B cells in Multiple Myeloma, L-Asparagine is an essential amino acid for their cell metabolism, and, consequently, L-Asparaginase may be of value in managing the disease.
The rationale behind asparaginase is that it takes advantage of the fact that ALL cellsare unable to synthesize the non-essential amino acidasparaginewhereas normal cells are able to make their own asparagine. These leukemic cells depend on circulating asparagine. Asparaginase however catalyzes the conversion of L-asparagine to aspartic acidand ammonia. This deprives the leukemic cell of circulating asparagine.

CNDP Dipeptidase 1, also known as CNDP1 is a member of the peptidase M20A family. CNDP1 Mannheim which is the shortest allelic form has been more common in the absence of nephropathy in addition to being associated with lower serum carnosinase levels. Furthermore, Carnosine inhibited the increased production of fibronectin as well as collagen type VI in podocytes and the increased production of TGF-beta in mesangial cells. Diabetic patients with the CNDP1 Mannheim variant are less at risk for nephropathy. In addition, on renal cells carnosine protects against the adverse effects of high glucose levels.

Enteropeptidase or enterokinase is an enzymeinvolved in human digestion. It is produced by cells in the duodenum wall, and is secreted from duodenum's glands, the crypts of Lieberk?hn, whenever ingested food enters the duodenum from the stomach. Enteropeptidase has the critical job of turning trypsinogen(a zymogen) to trypsin, indirectly activating a number of pancreaticdigestive enzymes.
Enteropeptidase is a serine proteaseenzyme(EC3.4.21.9). Enteropeptidase is a part of the Chymotrypsin-clan of serine proteases, and is structurally similar to these proteins.

Cytidine deaminase (CDA) is an enzyme that scavenges exogenous and endogenous cytidine and 2'-deoxycytidine for UMP synthesis. CDA is one of several deaminases responsible for maintaining the cellular pyrimidine pool. CDA also catalyzes the deamination of chemotherapeutic cytosine nucleoside analogs such as Ara-C and 5-azacytidine, which results in the loss of their cytotoxic and antitumor function. CDA can form homotetramers and is generally expressed in granulocytes. Mutations in the CDA gene are linked to decreased sensitivity to the cytosine nucleoside analogue cytosine arabinoside used in the treatment of certain childhood leukemias.

Biotinidase also known BTD, belongs to the nitrilase superfamily, which contains 12 families of nitrilases, amidases, carbamylases, and N-acyltrasferases. BTD catalyzes the hydrolysis of biocytin, the product of biotin-dependent carboxylase degradation, to biotin and lysine. BTD has a vital regulatory part in chromatin/DNA function. Mutations in BTD protein lead to Biotinidase deficiency.