Kallikreins are a subgroup of , enzymes capable of cleaving peptide bonds in proteins. In humans, plasma kallikrein (encoded by KLKB1 gene) has no known paralogue, while tissue kallikrein-related peptidases ( KLKs) encode a family of fifteen closely related serine proteases. These genes are localised to chromosome 19q13, forming the largest contiguous cluster of proteases within the human genome. Kallikreins are responsible for the coordination of various physiological functions including blood pressure, semen liquefaction and skin desquamation.
Occurrence
In 1934,
Eugen Werle reported finding a substance in the
pancreas of humans and various animals in such large amounts that the pancreas could be taken for its site of origin. He named it kallikrein, by derivation from the Greek word καλλίκρεας (
kallíkreas) 'pancreas'. Since then, similar enzymes have been found in the biological fluids of humans and other mammals, as well as in some snake venoms.
Venom
The caterpillar known as
Lagoa crispata contains poison glands attached to hypodermic spines, which produce and inject venom that has been characterized as kallikrein in nature.
The venom of and some shrews like the northern short-tailed shrew consist of multiple copies of kallikrein 1 ( KLK1) serine proteases.
Plasma kallikrein
The
KLKB1 gene encoding plasma kallikrein is located on chromosome 4q34-35. It is synthesised as an inactive precursor,
prekallikrein, which must undergo proteolytic processing to become activated. This is facilitated by
factor XII,
PRCP or other stimuli.
Plasma kallikrein liberates (bradykinin and kallidin) from the ,
Structure
Kallikrein is homologous to
factor XI and consists of four
PAN domain and one
serine protease domain.
Tissue kallikreins
Distinct from plasma kallikrein, tissue kallikreins (KLKs) are expressed throughout the human body and perform various physiological roles. As some kallikreins are able to catalyse the activation of other kallikreins, several cascades involving these proteases have been implicated in the regulation of homeostatic functions.
Function
Similar to KLKB1, three tissue kallikreins KLK1, KLK2 and KLK12 also participate in regulation of blood pressure via the activation of bradykinin.
KLK2, KLK3, KLK4, KLK5 and KLK14 are expressed in the prostate and are thought to be responsible for regulating semen liquefaction through hydrolysis of
semenogelin.
of the skin is likely controlled by KLK5, KLK7 and KLK14, which are expressed in the outermost layer of the epidermis and cleave cellular adhesion proteins.
Additionally, KLK6 and KLK8 are associated with neuronal plasticity in the central nervous system.
Genes
There are 15 known human tissue kallikreins: KLK1, KLK2, KLK3, KLK4, KLK5, KLK6, KLK7, KLK8, KLK9, KLK10, KLK11, KLK12, KLK13, KLK14, KLK15.
Clinical significance
Kallikrein-related peptidases are targets of active investigation by drug researchers as possible
for cancer.
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA; hk3, human kallikrein gene 3) and human glandular kallikrein (hK2) are used as for prostate cancer.
Ecallantide, lanadelumab, and berotralstat are FDA-approved drugs that inhibit kallikrein and can be used for managing hereditary angioedema.
A missense variant on KLK15 has been associated with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
See also
External links
-
The MEROPS online database for peptidases and their inhibitors: S01.212
