Peptidázy motolic

Abstract

90 3. SUMMARY The text above refers about the majority of characterized trematode peptidases; the fundamental enzymes for trematode existence, which are integrated in many physiological processes like pathogenesis, tissue invasion/migration, nutrition, immune evasion and host-parasite interactions. In the history (until 1996), the peptidase catalytic activities in trematode extracts have been monitored. During 1980s and 1990s, the information of first cloned trematode peptidase genes were published and during last three decades cca 90 trematode peptidase sequences belonging to 19 peptidase families of 5 clans have been identified. The most studied trematode peptidases have been of Schistosoma mansoni origin: the serine peptidase - cercarial elastase (of cercariae), cysteine peptidases - cathepsins B, L, F, C plus the asparaginyl endopeptidase SmAE and the aspartic peptidase - cathepsin D (of adult worms and some other life stages). The recent computational cluster analysis revealed that the sequence S. mansoni elastase (the main cercarial penetration enzyme) is quite divergent from other serine peptidases of the S1 family. Cercarial elastase gene was proved in S. mansoni, S. haematobium and Schistosomatium douthitti, but not in the related S. japonicum. Mass spectrometry analysis confirmed cercarial...