CHITINOLYTIC ACTIVITIES IN TRICHOMONAS-VAGINALIS

Chitinolytic activities were identified in the Protozoa Trichomonas va ginalis. Overall chitinase activity assessed using chitine-azure as su bstrate was 10.93 +/- 1.21 nmoles/min/mg prot. End nonreducing chitobi osidase (exochitinase) and chitotriosidase (endochitinase) activities were shown using p-nitrophenyl-substrates and had specific activities oi 4.55 +/- 0.53 and 0.47 +/- 0.06 nmol/min/mg prot, k(m)app.= 1.32 mM and 5 mu M and pH optimum = 7.0 and 6.1 respectively. beta-N-acetylhe xosaminidase (NAHase) activity was also detected with a specific activ ity of 5.40 +/- 0.65 nmol/min/mg prot., K(m)app = 0.656 mM and pH opti mum al 7.0. No release of these enzymes into the culture medium was fo und. The possible role al chitinases in T. vaginalis remains to be inv estigated.