Acidic lens-protein degrading activity: I. Distribution in bovine ocular tissues

Bovine lens-protein degradation by ocular tissue homogenates was studied biochemically. Acidic lens-protein degrading activity was widespread in ocular tissues. The ciliary body enzyme, which showed the highest activity at pH 3.8, was inhibited by pepstatin and leupeptin. Lens-protein degrading activity may result from a combination of cathepsins B, D, H and L.