Determination of the proteolytic activity of the low-molecular protein antigen of Fasciola hepatica L
Klimenko, V.V.
Meditsinskaia Parazitologiia i Parazitarnye Bolezni 49(3): 37-41
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-8326 PMID: 6993909 Document Number: 162447
The low molecular protein antigen precipitable by trichloracetic acid [TCA] and retaining its activity at heating to 70.degree. C was separated from high molecular antigens upon fractionation of F. hepatica extract on Sephadex G-100. It gave 2 peaks of activity with distribution coefficients Kav = 0.3 and 0.43. In the antigenic fractions, proteolytic activity was found with the optimal pH of 3.5-4.0 disappearing on treatment with TCA but persisting upon heating to 70.degree. C. In gel chromatography on Sephadex the fraction possessing the proteolytic activity separated into 2 peaks distinctly superimposed on the antigenic activity peaks. The experimental data suggest that the antigen under study is a proteolytic enzyme with high affinity to Hb.