X. Zuo et Ptk. Woo, PURIFIED METALLOPROTEASE FROM THE PATHOGENIC HEMOFLAGELLATE CRYPTOBIA-SALMOSITICA AND ITS IN-VITRO PROTEOLYTIC ACTIVITIES, Diseases of aquatic organisms, 30(3), 1997, pp. 177-185
The metallo-protease (200 kDa) from Crytobia salmositica was purified
using ion-exchange chromatography and gelfiltration. The purity of the
enzyme was confirmed as there was only one homogeneous band using SDS
-PAGE. Under in vitro conditions the purified metallo-protease complet
ely degraded the extracellular matrix proteins (collagen types I, TV,
V and laminin) and the membrane proteins isolated from rainbow trout e
rythrocytes. The results confirm that the C. salmositica metallo-prote
ase is a histolytic enzyme and it contributes to salmonid cryptobiosis
and to the direct transmission of the parasite between fish.