Topic title: Human cystatins and stefins: from structure to function and role in neurodegenerative pathology Human cystatins have been studied thoroughly; from structure to pathology. They are found in various types of cytoplasmic vesicles, including secretory vesicles (cystatin C), in lysosomes, spread in the cytoplasm and the nucleus (stefin B, i.e., cystatin B). They are protease inhibitors of multiple proteins, including lysosomal cysteine cathepsins. However, it was demonstrated that they exert alternative and additional functions, among them bridging cytoskeletal proteins (Di Giamo et al., 2002), fighting oxidative stress (Lehtinen et al, 2009), augmenting autophagy (Tizon et al., 2007), and regulating transcription by binding to histones (Ceru et al., 2010). Two cystatins have pathogenic roles in the central nervous system. Cystatin C is an amyloidogenic protein causing hereditary cystatin C amyloid angiopathy (HCCAA), and stefin B (cystatin B, CSTB gene) mutations cause progressive myoclonus epilepsy of type 1 (EPM1). Cystatins are prone to form domain-swapped dimers and higher oligomers. As model animal studies show that while enhanced inhibition of cathepsins is beneficial in certain neurodegenerative disorders, absence of these inhibitors proves beneficial in other (Zerovnik, 2009, BioEssays). Under stress conditions such as status epilepticus, hypoxia and epileptic seizures, cystatins are overexpressed, suggesting their neuroprotective role. However, the exact in vivo physiological function(s) of cystatins and their pathogenic roles are not completely understood and the purpose of this special issue is to delineate major directions for further study.
C.03 Guest-associated editor
COBISS.SI-ID: 5029402ŽEROVNIK, Eva. The case study of stefins : towards a general mechanism of amyloid-fibril formation?. Barcelona: Institut of Biotechnology and Medicine, 13. jul. 2012.
B.04 Guest lecture
COBISS.SI-ID: 26013479