Cysteine protease activities during maturation stages of Paragonimus westermani.

In mature Paragonimus westermani, specific activity of parasitic cysteine protease declines. To clarify which of the known 17-, 27-, and 28-kDa enzyme activities is decreased, the cysteine proteases were purified from the crude extracts of metacercariae, 4- and 7-wk juveniles, and 16-wk adults by gel filtration, ion-exchange, and affinity matrix chromatographies; the enzyme activity was monitored with the fluorogenic substrate, Cbz-phe-arg-AMC. In addition to 3 known enzymes, 2 other cysteine proteases at 15 and 53 kDa were identified in juveniles and adults and were purified. The 2 novel enzymes were most active in 0.1 M ionic strength and pH 5-6 and were inhibited by N-(N-[L-3-transcarboxyrane-2-carbonyl]-L-leucyl)agamatine, iodoacetamide, and leupeptin. Of the 5 enzymes, specific activities of metacercarial 27- and 28-kDa enzymes were lowered from metacercaria to 16 wk. Between 4 and 16 wk, activities of 3 cysteine proteases of juveniles and adults were additionally exhibited. The activity changes of 5 different cysteine proteases may be associated with migration and immune evasion during the maturation stage of P. westermani when the parasite environment is changing.