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Cathepsin K is a highly potent mammalian collagenase and directly involved in osteoclast-mediated bone resorption.The unique triple-helical collagen degrading activity of cathepsin K depends on the formation of high molecular weight complexes with bone and cartilage resident glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) such as chondroitin 4-sulfate (C4-S).Two different complexes have been identified.One complex which exhibits a high collagenase activity appears to have a stoichiometry of 1:1 (C4-S:cathepsin K) whereas a unique string bead-like complex is formed in the presence of excess cathepsin K (1:n; C4-S:cathepsin K).