A thiol protease of peritoneal macrophages in the guinea pig.

Proteolytic enzymes of the guinea pig peritoneal exudate macrophages were investigated using synthetic fluorogenic peptide substrates. Among several enzymes, t-butyloxycarbonyl-phenylalanyl-seryl-arginine 4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide cleaving enzymes had the highest activity, and the activity in exudate macrophages was about 3 times stronger than that in resident macrophages. The molecular weight of the enzyme was around 35,000 and optimal pH around 6.5-7.0. It was inhibited by thiol-blocking reagents, suggesting a thiol protease.