Alterations in brush border membrane proteins and membrane-bound enzymes of the tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta, during development in the definitive host.

During growth and maturation of the tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta, significant decreases occur in the brush border membrane-bound alkaline phosphatase, phosphodiesterase, 5'-nucleotidase, adenosine triphosphatase and ribonuclease activities. These decreases are accompanied by qualitative and quantitative changes in the polypeptide profiles of the brush border membrane fraction. Gradients of enzymatic activities and polypeptide profiles are also demonstrable when mature tapeworms are cut into pieces and the brush border membrane of each piece analyzed individually. In fully developed tapeworms the enzymatic activities and polypeptide profiles of membrane preparations reflect mainly the contributions of the more mature proglottids; these proglottids constitute most of the tapeworm biomass. The most anterior sections of these fully developed worms are biochemically similar to young, developing worms.