Calcium-activated protease in hamster cardiomyopathy.

A high calcium-requiring protease was purified from the hearts of myopathic hamsters. The biochemical properties of the enzyme were studied with [3H]acetylcasein as substrate. Comparison of the enzyme from hamster and rat hearts indicated no species specificity. Increased levels of the enzyme were associated with the development of cardiac lesions in myopathic hamsters.