Cathepsin B (CB) is a lysosomal cysteine protease that may play a role in the activation of extracellular degradative enzymes involved in the destruction of the subendothelial matrix and extravasation of metastatic tumor cells. In this study we have investigated the cell surface expression of a CB-like enzyme on the surface of tumor cell variants expressing both high and low metastatic potentia...

ComK, the master regulator of competence, is degraded by the general stress-related protease ClpCP but must be targeted to this protease by binding to the adapter protein MecA. The genome of Bacillus subtilis contains a paralog of mecA, ypbH. We show in the present study that YpbH, like MecA, binds ClpC and that its elimination or overproduction affects competence and sporulation.