Götz B, Felleisen R, Shaw E, Klinkert M Q
Institute of Parasitology, University of Zürich, Switzerland.
Trop Med Parasitol. 1992 Dec;43(4):282-4.
Recombinant Schistosoma mansoni cathepsin B was produced in insect cells via the baculovirus expression vector system as a 37.5 kDa precursor molecule and a 31 kDa mature enzyme. Extracts prepared from cells infected with the recombinant virus were able to cleave a synthetic dipeptide substrate specific for cathepsin B. Proteolytic activity was inhibited by trans-epoxysuccinyl-L-leucyl-amido (4-guanidino) butane (E64) but not by phenylmethylsulphonyl-fluoride (PMSF), pepstatin and 1,10-phenanthroline. Specific inhibition by diazomethylketone derivatives, which bind covalently to the active centre of cysteinyl proteinases was also demonstrated.
