Use of proteolytic enzymes as an additional tool for trypanosomatid identification

A. L.S. Santos, C. M. Abreu, C. S. Alviano, R. M.A. Soares

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

The expression of proteolytic activities in the Trypanosomatidae family was explored as a potential marker to discriminate between the morphologically indistinguishable flagellates isolated from insects and plants. We have comparatively analysed the proteolytic profiles of 19 monoxenous trypanosomatids (Herpetomonas anglusteri, H. samuelpessoai, H. mariadeanei, H. roitmani, H. muscarum ingenoplastis, H. muscarum muscarum, H. megaseliae, H. dendoderi, Herpetomoas sp., Crithidia oncopelti, C. deanei, C. acanthocephali, C. harmosa, C. fasciculata, C. guilhermei, C. luciliae, Blastocrithidia culicis, Leptomonas samueli and Lept. seymouri) and 4 heteroxenous flagellates (Phytomonas serpens, P. mcgheei, Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania amazonensis) by in situ detection of enzyme activities on sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) containing co-polymerized gelatine as substrate, in association with specific proteinase inhibitors. All 23 trypanosomatids expressed at least 1 acidic proteolytic enzyme. In addition, a characteristic and specific pattern of cell-associated metallo and/or cysteine proteinases was observed, except for the similar profiles detected in 2 Herpetomonas (H. anglusteri and H. samuelpessoai) and 3 Crithidia (C. fasciculata, C. guilhermei and C. luciliae) species. However, these flagellates released distinct secretory proteinase profiles into the extracellular medium. These findings strongly suggest that the association of cellular and secretory proteinase pattern could represent a useful marker to help trypanosomatid identification.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)79-88
Number of pages10
JournalParasitology
Volume130
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2005
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cell-associated proteinases
  • Cysteine proteinases
  • Gelatine-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
  • Metalloproteinases
  • Secretory proteinases
  • Trypanosomatidae family

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Animal Science and Zoology
  • Infectious Diseases

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Use of proteolytic enzymes as an additional tool for trypanosomatid identification'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this