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Characterization of proteolytic enzymes from larval and adult Nippostrongylus brasiliensis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

J. Healer ,
F. Ashall  and
R. M. Maizels
J. Healer
Affiliation:
Wellcome Research Centre for Parasitic Infections, Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BB, UK
F. Ashall
Affiliation:
Wellcome Research Centre for Parasitic Infections, Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BB, UK
R. M. Maizels
Affiliation:
Wellcome Research Centre for Parasitic Infections, Department of Biology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BB, UK
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Abstract

Proteases from infective larval (L3) and adult stages of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis were investigated with a combination of techniques involving gelatin degradation and cleavage of fluorogenic substrates. Analysis of L3 excretory–secretory (ES) products revealed enzymes of Mr 51, 58, 79, ~ 150 and ~ 250 kDa. Inhibition profiles indicate that the major 51 kDa protease is a metallo-enzyme. Significantly, little activity was present in larval somatic extracts, suggesting the synthesis of zymogens or precursor forms prior to secretion. Adult ES contained a distinct enzyme, of 50 kDa, and a number of other proteases were detected in somatic extracts of this stage, ranging from 51 to > 300 kDa. The largest of these adult somatic enzymes is also a putative metallo-protease. While nearly all enzymes from both L3 and adult are heat labile, incubation at 100 °C generated a previously unobserved activity at 20 kDa. Furthermore, a protease of similar size may be found in uninfected rat intestinal tissue, suggesting specific uptake of a host-associated enzyme by the parasite in the form of an inactive, heat-labile complex.

Keywords

nematodeproteinasessubstrate gelsfluorogenic substratesmetallo-proteases

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 103 , Issue 2 , October 1991 , pp. 305 - 314
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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