Ctsl - cathepsin L

This gene encodes a member of the peptidase C1 (papain) family of cysteine proteases. The encoded preproprotein is proteolytically processed to generate multiple protein products. These products include the activation peptide and the cathepsin L1 heavy and light chains. The mature enzyme appears to be important in embryonic development through its processing of histone H3 and may play a role in disease progression in a model of kidney disease. Homozygous knockout mice for this gene exhibit hair loss, skin thickening, bone and heart defects, and enhanced susceptibility to bacterial infection. A pseudogene of this gene has been identified in the genome. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2015]