title: Cysteine protease activities during maturation stages of Paragonimus westermani.
abstract: In mature Paragonimus westermani, specific activity of parasitic cysteine protease declines. To clarify which of the known 17-, 27-, and 28-kDa enzyme activities is decreased, the cysteine proteases were purified from the crude extracts of metacercariae, 4- and 7-wk juveniles, and 16-wk adults by gel filtration, ion-exchange, and affinity matrix chromatographies; the enzyme activity was monitored with the fluorogenic substrate, Cbz-phe-arg-AMC. In addition to 3 known enzymes, 2 other cysteine proteases at 15 and 53 kDa were identified in juveniles and adults and were purified. The 2 novel enzymes were most active in 0.1 M ionic strength and pH 5-6 and were inhibited by N-(N-[L-3-transcarboxyrane-2-carbonyl]-L-leucyl)agamatine, iodoacetamide, and leupeptin. Of the 5 enzymes, specific activities of metacercarial 27- and 28-kDa enzymes were lowered from metacercaria to 16 wk. Between 4 and 16 wk, activities of 3 cysteine proteases of juveniles and adults were additionally exhibited. The activity changes of 5 different cysteine proteases may be associated with migration and immune evasion during the maturation stage of P. westermani when the parasite environment is changing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Y B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010238:Paragonimus / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases