Effect of heavy metal cations on the activity of cathepsin D (in vitro study) Effect of heavy metal cations on the activity of cathepsin D (in vitro study)

We studied the effect of heavy metal cations: Fe 2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Hg2+, Pb2+ on the activity of cathepsin D in human aorta homogenate and blood serum. The concentration of cations was 1 mmol/l. Hemoglobin was the cathepsin D substrate. The activity of cathepsin D was determined at pH 3.5. Only Hg2+ cations inhibit the activity of cathepsin D. Cations Hg2+ damage lysosomes and release cathepsin D from these organelles. We studied the effect of heavy metal cations: Fe 2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Hg2+, Pb2+ on the activity of cathepsin D in human aorta homogenate and blood serum. The concentration of cations was 1 mmol/l. Hemoglobin was the cathepsin D substrate. The activity of cathepsin D was determined at pH 3.5. Only Hg2+ cations inhibit the activity of cathepsin D. Cations Hg2+ damage lysosomes and release cathepsin D from these organelles.