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Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Glycopeptide Capture for Cell Surface Proteomics
Published on: May 10, 2014
Skin surface proteolytic activity. Partial characterization and identification
U Wormser1, B Brodsky, E V Moor
1Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Israel. wormser@yam-suff.cc.huji.ac.il
Skin surface proteolytic activity in the living animal was determined by a sensitive, non-invasive methodology developed in our laboratory. A non-leaky well was constructed on the shaved back of an anesthetized guinea pig. The well contained the reaction mixture including the substrate 125I-S-carboxymethylated insulin B-chain (ICMI). The proteolytic activity was shown to be time-dependent. The activity was strongly inhibited by pepstatin A, indicating the involvement of aspartic proteinase(s) such as cathepsin D and/or E. Pretreatment of the skin with propylene glycol blocked the proteolytic activity. The present study demonstrates the presence of proteolytic activity located on skin surface using a unique, non-invasive method for in situ proteinase determination in the living animal.
Skin surface proteolytic activity in the living animal was determined by a sensitive, non-invasive methodology developed in our laboratory. A non-leaky well was constructed on the shaved back of an anesthetized guinea pig. The well contained the reaction mixture including the substrate 125I-S-carboxymethylated insulin B-chain (ICMI). The proteolytic activity was shown to be time-dependent. The activity was strongly inhibited by pepstatin A, indicating the involvement of aspartic proteinase(s) such as cathepsin D and/or E. Pretreatment of the skin with propylene glycol blocked the proteolytic activity. The present study demonstrates the presence of proteolytic activity located on skin surface using a unique, non-invasive method for in situ proteinase determination in the living animal.

