The place of human gamma-trace (cystatin C) amongst the cysteine proteinase inhibitors
Native γ-trace, a small basic protein present in high concentration in cerebrospinal fluid, semen and neuroendocrine cells, but of unknown biological function, is shown to be a potent inhibitor of the cysteine proteinases papain, ficin, and human cathepsins B, H and L. It proves to be the tightest-binding protein inhibitor of cathepsin B so far discovered. The name cystatin C is proposed for γ-tra
