title: Comparison of biochemical and immunochemical properties of myosin II in taeniid parasites.
abstract: Type II myosins are highly conserved proteins, though differences have been observed among organisms, mainly in the filamentous region. Myosin isoforms have been identified in Taenia solium, a helminth parasite of public health importance in many developing countries. These isoforms are probably associated with the physiological requirements of each developmental stage of the parasite. In this paper we extend the characterization of myosin to several other Taenia species. Type II myosins were purified from the larvae (cysticerci) of Taenia solium, T. taeniaeformis and T. crassiceps and the adult stages of T. solium, T. taeniaeformis and T. saginata. Rabbit polyclonal antibodies against some of these myosins were specific at high dilutions but cross-reacted at low dilutions. ATPase activity was evaluated and kinetic values were calculated for each myosin. Homologous actin-myosin interactions increased both the affinity of myosin for ATP and the hydrolysis rate. The results indicate immunological and biochemical differences among taeniid myosins. This variability suggests that different isoforms are found not only in different taeniid species but also at different developmental stages. Further characterization of myosin isoforms should include determination of their amino acid composition.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Edificio A 2 piso, Ciudad Universitaria, México DF, 04510, México.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cruz-Rivera
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reyes-Torres
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Reynoso-Ducoing
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Flisser
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ambrosio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D024462:Myosin Type II / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D009218:Myosins / Q000378:metabolism; D010449:Peptide Mapping; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000032:analysis; D013621:Taenia
chemical_list: D020033:Protein Isoforms; D024462:Myosin Type II; D009218:Myosins