Protein kinases in different life stages of Brugia malayi and other filarial worms.

The investigation of protein kinase activity in different life stages of a few filarial worms indicates the presence of different protein kinases and of dissimilarities between the distribution pattern of these enzymes during the development. Phosvitin turned out to be the preferred exogenous acceptor protein, when homogenates of adults of Brugia malayi, Dipetalonema viteae, Setaria cervi and Litomosoides carinii were used as source of enzyme. In contrast to adults the L3-larval and the microfilarial stages demonstrated much lower phosvitin phosphorylating activity and the preference for acidic and basic proteins as phosphate acceptors was about equal. The occurrence of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase was established for adults of B. malayi.