CALPAIN INHIBITOR II

Chemical properties

white to off-white powder

The Uses of CALPAIN INHIBITOR II

Calpain inhibitor II is a cell-permeable peptide that restricts the activity of calpain, cathepsin L and cathepsin B. Calpain inhibitor II also prevents the methylmercury-induced cell death of cultured rat cerebellar neurons.

Definition

ChEBI: N-Acetylleucyl-leucyl-methioninal is a peptide.

General Description

A cell-permeable inhibitor of calpain I (K_i = 120 nM), calpain II (K_i = 230 nM), cathepsin B (K_i = 100 nM), and cathepsin L (K_i = 0.6 nM). Inhibits activation-induced programmed cell death and restores defective immune responses in HIV⁺ donors. Also prevents nitric oxide produced by activated macrophages by interfering with transcription of the inducible nitric oxide synthase gene.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Calpain is a cysteine protease expressed in the nervous system. Calpain exhibits a calcium-dependent enzyme activity. In mice models, inhibition of calpain prevents leukocyte infiltration induced by angiotensin II and also attenuates prevascular inflammation.