[Proteolytic activity of adult worm extracts of Onchocerca volvulus].

Abstract

Studying proteolytic activity of Onchocerca volvulus (nematode causing "river blindness") shows that it is able to digest a variety of substrates such as: azoalbumine, azocoll and elastin-orcein with specific activity of 0.28, 0.57 and 1.48 mg/hour/mg of extract respectively. These enzymes are active at various pH such as pH 5.0, 8.0 and 10.0 with highest activity at pH 8.0. The effect of specific inhibitors and activators indicates that the extract might contain serine, metallo and thyoproteases. The electrophoresis of the extract on a polyacrylamide gel copolymerized with gelatin shows many proteins with enzymatic activities with molecular weight of 16.6, 43.6, 45.7, 56.2, 60.2, 61.6 and 63.1 KD respectively. The Onchocerca volvulus worm contains proteases of various enzymatic activities: a non specific activity on protein such as on azoalbumin and specific activities on collagen and elastin. These enzymes could play an important role in the survival of parasites in human hosts.

• Authors: G Lando, G Simo, G Tatchum, J Donfack, S Djoha, C Tume
• Journal: Bulletin de la Societe de pathologie exotique (1990) (Bull Soc Pathol Exot) Vol. 92 Issue 1 Pg. 9-12 (Feb 1999) ISSN: 0037-9085 [Print] France
• Vernacular Title: Activité protéolytique de l'extrait de vers adultes de l'Onchocerca volvulus.
• PMID: 10214511 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Albumins
• Protease Inhibitors
• azoalbumin
• Collagen
• Elastin
• Endopeptidases

Topics

• Albumins (metabolism)
• Animals
• Collagen (metabolism)
• Elastin (metabolism)
• Endopeptidases (analysis, metabolism)
• Humans
• Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
• Molecular Weight
• Onchocerca volvulus (enzymology)
• Protease Inhibitors (pharmacology)
• Substrate Specificity