EFFECT OF PROTEASE CLASS-SPECIFIC INHIBITORS ON IN-VITRO DEVELOPMENT OF THE 3RD-STAGE TO 4TH-STAGE LARVAE OF ASCARIS-SUUM

Citation
Ml. Rhoads et al., EFFECT OF PROTEASE CLASS-SPECIFIC INHIBITORS ON IN-VITRO DEVELOPMENT OF THE 3RD-STAGE TO 4TH-STAGE LARVAE OF ASCARIS-SUUM, The Journal of parasitology, 84(4), 1998, pp. 686-690
Citations number
21
Categorie Soggetti
Parasitiology
Journal title
ISSN journal
00223395
Volume
84
Issue
4
Year of publication
1998
Pages
686 - 690
Database
ISI
SICI code
0022-3395(1998)84:4<686:EOPCIO>2.0.ZU;2-H
Abstract
Third-stage larvae (L3) of Ascaris suum develop and molt to fourth-sta ge larvae (L4) during in vitro cultivation; consistently greater than 80% of the larvae develop to L4 during 7 days in culture (DIC). To ass ess the role of proteases in this process, the effect of protease clas s-specific inhibitors was studied. The presence of either a serine pro tease inhibitor (AEBSF, 100 mu M) or an aspartic protease inhibitor (p epstatin A, 100 mu M) had no effect on the percentage of L4 after 7 DI G. However, the presence of either a cysteine protease inhibitor (Z-Ph e-Ala-FMK, 100 mu M) or an aminopeptidase inhibitor (amastatin, 100 mu M) resulted in 77% and 34% reductions, respectively, in the percentag e of L4 compared to untreated cultures; viability of the larvae was no t affected. The effect of Z-Phe-Ala-FMK on molting was time and dose d ependent. In contrast to Z-Phe-Ala-FMK, E-64, another specific inhibit or of cysteine proteases, had no effect on molting. The data support a role for an amino-peptidase and suggest a role for a cysteine proteas e in the development of the L3 to L4 stage of A. suum.