CAST
CAST (calpastatin) is an endogenous inhibitor of calpain, the calcium-dependent cysteine protease, and belongs to the protease inhibitor I27 family. The gene was previously known as MIR583 host gene (MIR583HG). Browse Assay Genie's current range of CAST research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
CAST encodes calpastatin, a specific inhibitor of calpain, the calcium-dependent cysteine protease. Because it acts on calpain directly, calpastatin is described as an endogenous regulator of calpain activity, and the two proteins are often studied together as the calpain/calpastatin system. This system is involved in numerous membrane fusion events, including neural vesicle exocytosis and platelet and red-cell aggregation.
The calpastatin protein is built from an N-terminal domain L followed by four repetitive calpain-inhibition domains, termed domains 1-4. It belongs to the protease inhibitor I27 (calpastatin) family. The CAST gene also produces alternatively spliced transcript variants that encode different isoforms. NCBI Gene notes that the encoded protein is thought to affect the expression levels of genes encoding structural or regulatory proteins, and that it is involved in the proteolysis of amyloid precursor protein.
In muscle biology, calpastatin plays a key role in the postmortem tenderisation of meat, and it has been proposed to contribute to muscle protein degradation in living tissue. The HGNC symbol CAST is shared with a previous name for the locus, MIR583 host gene (MIR583HG). Mouse and rat each carry a Cast ortholog, which allows the calpain/calpastatin axis to be studied in common rodent models.
Calpastatin is a specific inhibitor of calpain, so CAST is central to work on how calcium-dependent cysteine protease activity is controlled.
Calpastatin has been proposed to be involved in muscle protein degradation in living tissue and in postmortem meat tenderisation.
CAST is involved in the proteolysis of amyloid precursor protein, linking the calpain/calpastatin system to this processing pathway.
The calpain/calpastatin system contributes to membrane fusion events such as neural vesicle exocytosis and platelet and red-cell aggregation.
CAST encodes calpastatin, which specifically inhibits calpain, a calcium-dependent cysteine protease. It has four repetitive calpain-inhibition domains and an N-terminal domain L. The calpain/calpastatin system is involved in membrane fusion events, and calpastatin is implicated in muscle protein degradation and postmortem meat tenderisation.
The approved name is calpastatin, and the gene was previously called MIR583 host gene, with the symbol MIR583HG. Alternatively spliced transcript variants have been described that encode different isoforms, so check which isoform a reagent recognises before use.
Yes. Mouse and rat both have an ortholog named Cast, so the calpain/calpastatin system can be investigated in rodent models. Calpastatin belongs to the protease inhibitor I27 family. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Calpain family members, amyloid precursor protein and other proteins in the calpain/calpastatin pathway with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P20810; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.