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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
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

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.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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