H. Tschesche – författare

Proteinases were among the first enzymes to be investigated biochemi- cally, and purification and crystallization especially of proteolytic enzymes of the digestive tract has contributed much to our present knowledge of enzymic structure and mechanisms of catalysis. However, for a long time little has been known about the functional aspects of proteinases. The only exception from this have been the digestive tract enzymes responsible for extracellular catalysis of protein breakdown and supply of amino acids for new-protein assembly and nitrogen metab- olism in the respective organs. The work of Schoenheimer, summarized for the first time in 1942 in a paper entitled "Dynamic state of body constituents", showed that continuous turnover of proteins takes place in cells. But scientists did not pay much attention to these findings at that time. The continuous accumulation of knowledge of a variety of intracellular proteolytic processes during the past decades has greatly stimulated research in this field. The central role of proteo- lysis in cellular regulation has become fully evident during recent years.It is the aim of the 30th Mosbach Colloquium to present an over- view of our present knowledge of proteinase structure, function and control. The relationship between globular protein structure of a proteinase and induction of enzymic activity will be discussed for trypsin and trypsinogen activation. One significant proteinase action is the total degradation of proteins to serve cellular needs under different condi- tions.

These proceedings contain the papers presented at the Bayer-Symposium V which was held in Grosse Ledder on October 16-21, 1973 and which was simultaneously the Second International Research Conference on Proteinase Inhibitors. The cordial atmosphere, the frank discussions and the profitable exchange of ideas during the First International Research Conference on Proteinase Inhibitors which was held on November 4--6, 1970 in Munich were a stimulant for us to consider holding a Second Conference especially as the steadily increasing research activities in this and related fields called for a new assessment of recent efforts in proteinase inhibitor research. In the three years since the First Conference was held, this field has developed particularly in the areas of molecular aspects of protein-protein interactions and in the extension to inhibitors of nonserine proteinases and peptidases. In planning this meeting the Organizing Committee was faced with the problem of selecting a limited number of participants and we decided that it was appropriate and necessary to focus in detail on the chemistry of proteinase inhibitors, their interac­ tions with a variety of enzymes and also to invite more general papers to survey the physiological and clinical aspects of the subject which we felt would be of importance in the future.