title: Proteolytic activity of Oidiodendron kalrai.
abstract: The physiochemical characteristics of the intracellular proteolytic enzymes of Oidiodendron kalari, a neuropathogenic fungus, were studied. The organism in the yeast phase was grown in a semisynthetic medium containing 1% tryptone, at 37 degrees C for 48 hr, on a gyrotory shaker. The crude extract was prepared by breaking the cells in a French pressure cell and the proteolytci activity was tested against biological substrates. The cell-free extract hydrolyzed casein, hemoglobin, lactalbumin, gelatin, elastin, collagen and purified rabbit renal basement membrane to various degrees. Optimal proteolytic activity was observed at pH 6 and at 32 degrees C. Calcium and EDTA did not affect the enzymatic activity; however, activity was partially inhibited by sulfhydryl-blocking agents and by heat-inactivated horse, calf, and human serum. The extract was totally inactivated by exposure to a temperature of 70 degrees C for 60 min. Storage at -76 degrees C or -15 degrees C for 6 months or at 4 degrees C for 4 weeks did not affect protease activity.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002364:Caseins / Q000378:metabolism; D002474:Cell-Free System; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D003545:Cysteine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D004549:Elastin / Q000378:metabolism; D005780:Gelatin / Q000378:metabolism; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007668:Kidney; D007768:Lactalbumin / Q000378:metabolism; D003904:Mitosporic Fungi / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D013439:Sulfhydryl Reagents / Q000494:pharmacology; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D002364:Caseins; D006454:Hemoglobins; D013439:Sulfhydryl Reagents; D005780:Gelatin; D003094:Collagen; D004549:Elastin; D007768:Lactalbumin; D004492:Edetic Acid; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D003545:Cysteine; D002118:Calcium