Autolysis in the tail muscles of metamorphosing tadpoles.

Degradation of muscle homogenate from the metamorphosing tadpole tail of bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana, was examined at acid and neutral pHs. More rapid and complete degradation was observed at acid pH. Proteinases working at acid pH were not inhibited by pepstatin but were inhibited by leupeptin. However, the inhibition by leupeptin was enhanced by pepstatin. These results show that lysosomal proteinases, a thiol proteinase(s) rather than cathepsin D, are involved in the degradation of tail muscle proteins.