CSTA
CSTA (cystatin A, also known as STF1 or STFA) is an intracellular thiol proteinase inhibitor of the type 1 cystatin group, or stefins. It contributes to desmosome-mediated cell-cell adhesion in the epidermis and to the formation of the cornified cell envelope in keratinocytes. Browse Assay Genie's current range of CSTA research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
CSTA is an intracellular thiol proteinase inhibitor. According to the NCBI Gene summary, the protein functions as a cysteine protease inhibitor and forms tight complexes with papain and with cathepsins B, H and L. UniProt also assigns it an important role in desmosome-mediated cell-cell adhesion in the lower levels of the epidermis.
The CSTA gene encodes cystatin A, which belongs to the cystatin family. The cystatin superfamily contains proteins with multiple cystatin-like sequences. Some members are active cysteine protease inhibitors, while others have lost, or perhaps never acquired, this activity. Three inhibitory families are recognised: the type 1 cystatins (stefins), the type 2 cystatins and the kininogens. HGNC places the CSTA protein in the type 1 cystatins gene group, and the protein is localised to the cytoplasm. The mouse and rat orthologues are both named Csta.
CSTA is one of the precursor proteins of the cornified cell envelope in keratinocytes and plays a role in epidermal development and maintenance. The protein was formerly listed as cystatin A (stefin A), and the aliases STF1 and STFA are still found in the literature. Stefins have also been proposed as prognostic and diagnostic tools for cancer, which makes CSTA a protein of interest beyond skin biology.
CSTA is a cornified cell envelope precursor in keratinocytes and contributes to epidermal development and maintenance.
CSTA has an important role in desmosome-mediated cell-cell adhesion in the lower levels of the epidermis.
As a stefin, CSTA forms tight complexes with papain and cathepsins B, H and L, making it a model cysteine protease inhibitor.
Stefins have been proposed as prognostic and diagnostic tools for cancer, prompting study of CSTA in this setting.
CSTA is an intracellular cysteine protease inhibitor that forms tight complexes with papain and cathepsins B, H and L. It also has an important role in desmosome-mediated cell-cell adhesion in the lower epidermis, and is a precursor of the keratinocyte cornified cell envelope.
CSTA stands for cystatin A. HGNC lists the aliases STF1 and STFA, and the previous name cystatin A (stefin A). The term stefin refers to the type 1 cystatins, the inhibitory family to which this protein belongs.
Mouse and rat both carry a Csta orthologue. Stefins, including this one, have been proposed as prognostic and diagnostic tools for cancer. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other cystatins, cathepsin proteases and epidermal biology targets with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P01040; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.