Cathepsin and methods and compositions for inhibition thereof

摘要

Methods for inhibiting the secretion of beta -amyloid peptide ( beta AP) from cells comprise administering to the cells certain compounds which inhibit the activity of an approximately 31 kD protease involved in beta AP secretion. The 31 kD protease has been designated Cathepsin Y. Screening methods for beta AP inhibitors rely on determining the activity of test compounds in the presence of Cathepsin Y and a suitable peptide substrate. This invention is also directed to a nucleic acid sequence that encodes Cathepsin Y and the expression and isolation of Cathepsin Y.