A cDNA for rat cathepsin H was isolated and sequenced. The deduced protein comprising 333 amino acid residues is composed of a typical signal sequence (21 residues), a pro-peptide region (92 residues) and a mature enzyme region (220 residues). The amino acid sequence in the pro-peptide region, in particular, residues Phe-(-41) to Ser-(-29) of cathepsin H, is highly homologous to the pro-peptide regions of other cysteine proteinases. This homologous region may play a role in the processing of cysteine proteinases.