Recombinant Human Latexin Protein, CF

Human Latexin, also known as tissue carboxypeptidase inhibitor, is the only mammalian carboxypeptidase inhibitor identified so far. Latexin was initially identified as a marker of neurons in the lateral neocortex of the developing brain (hence latexin) (1). Further studies have shown that latexin is highly expressed in mast cells and macrophages (2, 3). It is induced in acute pancreatitis and lung inflammatory disease. In addition, it is able to inhibit carboxypeptidases from the pancreas (CPA1 and CPA2) and mast cells (CPA3) (4). Therefore, it is thought that latexin primarily functions in inflammation and innate immunity pathways. Compared to other carboxypeptidase inhibitors from plants and parasites, the 222 amino acid latexin is much larger and more importantly, it lacks some conserved C-terminal residues, which interact with the target carboxypeptidase in a substrate-like manner (5). This distinct feature of latexin suggests that it has a different carboxypeptidase inhibition mechanism.