Serine Proteases in Pericellular Proteolysis and Signaling

September 12–15, 2019
Potomac, Md.

Organizers

Eric Camerer, INSERM
Bob Lazarus, Genentech, Inc.

The 2019 symposium on Serine Proteases in Pericellular Proteolysis and Signaling continues the tradition of the special symposia on membrane-anchored serine proteases with an expanded focus on other serine proteases with overlapping substrates and functions in the pericellular environment.

Proteases account for approximately 2% of mammalian proteome. A subset of these in the serine protease superfamily are actively involved in coordinating organ development and cellular behavior through proteolytic processing of hormones, growth factors, membrane receptors and ion channels. While some, such as the membrane-anchored serine proteases (MASPs), contain transmembrane domains or lipid anchors, others make use of plasma membrane cofactors and other mechanisms to direct their activities to the pericellular environment. Pericellular proteolysis is important for organ development and homeostasis but can also contribute to epithelial and endothelial barrier dysfunction, inflammatory disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative diseases if protease activities are not adequately restrained. Understanding the biochemistry and biology of these proteases and their regulators is therefore of great interest to basic science, clinical research and drug development.

Sponsors