Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Kallikrein-related peptidases

  • Review
  • Published:
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract.

Kallikrein 1 (KLK1), a key component of the kallikrein-kinin system, originates from a locus on the long arm of chromosome 19 that contains several related serine endopeptidases. The biological role of these kallikrein-related peptidases is not clear, but emerging evidence suggests that they might be important in several physiological systems, e.g., in male reproduction, skin homeostasis, tooth enamel formation and neural development and plasticity. The kallikrein locus has undergone some major evolutionary events. Most spectacular are relatively recent duplications of KLK1 that have created 13 and 9 functional genes that are unique to the mouse and the rat, respectively. Human paralogs are KLK2 and KLK3: the latter encoding the cancer biomarker prostate-specific antigen. In this review on kallikrein-related peptidases, the focus is on their evolution, their role in skin homeostasis and semen liquefaction, and their utility as cancer biomarkers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Å. Lundwall.

Additional information

Received 15 January 2008; received after revision 7 February 2008; accepted 12 February 2008

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lundwall, Å., Brattsand, M. Kallikrein-related peptidases. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 65, 2019–2038 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-008-8024-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-008-8024-3

Keywords.

Navigation