Structural Basis of Reduction-Dependent Activation of Human Cystatin F.
Schuttelkopf, A.W., Hamilton, G., Watts, C., Van Aalten, D.M.F.(2006) J Biol Chem 281: 16570
- PubMed: 16601115 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M601033200
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
2CH9 - PubMed Abstract: 
Cystatins are important natural cysteine protease inhibitors targeting primarily papain-like cysteine proteases, including cathepsins and parasitic proteases like cruzipain, but also mammalian asparaginyl endopeptidase. Mammalian cystatin F, which is expressed almost exclusively in hematopoietic cells and accumulates in lysosome-like organelles, has been implicated in the regulation of antigen presentation and other immune processes. It is an unusual cystatin superfamily member with a redox-regulated activation mechanism and a restricted specificity profile. We describe the 2.1A crystal structure of human cystatin F in its dimeric "off" state. The two monomers interact in a fashion not seen before for cystatins or cystatin-like proteins that is crucially dependent on an unusual intermolecular disulfide bridge, suggesting how reduction leads to monomer formation and activation. Strikingly, core sugars for one of the two N-linked glycosylation sites of cystatin F are well ordered, and their conformation and interactions with the protein indicate that this unique feature of cystatin F may modulate its inhibitory properties, in particular its reduced affinity toward asparaginyl endopeptidase compared with other cystatins.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Division of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Microbiology, Wellcome Trust Biocentre, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, Scotland.