Cysteine-rich proteins

Cysteine-rich proteins (CRPs) are a large and diverse class of proteins and peptides present in all living organisms, characterized by a high content of cysteine residues. These cysteines commonly form intra- or intermolecular disulfide bonds, or chelate metal ions, resulting in a stable tertiary structure. CRPs fulfill a wide range of biological functions, most notably as extracellular signals, hormones, growth factors, enzyme inhibitors, ion channel modulators, and antimicrobial peptides. Major subfamilies include cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISPs), cysteine-rich intestinal proteins (CRIPs), defensins, knottins, and others, each with distinct physiological roles. Members of this class can be involved in immune response, reproductive processes, embryonic development, angiogenesis, and cancer, but "cysteine-rich proteins" as a term does not denote a single drug target and is too broad for direct therapeutic manipulation; instead, individual proteins from these families may serve as significant disease markers, targets, or therapeutic scaffolds.

Other names

Cysteine-rich peptideDisulphide-rich peptideCRPCysteine-rich secretory protein