Phenol oxidase activity: inductionin female schistosomes by in vitro incubation.

A biochemical methods has been developed for detecting phenol oxidase in female Schistosoma mansoni. Enzyme activity is observed only after incubation of the female schistosomes for an extended period of time in tissue culture media. Male S. mansoni do not contain detectable levels of phenol oxidase activity. The properties of this enzyme are similar to those identified for a phenol oxidase from Fasciola hepatica. L-DOPA, dopamine, and tyrosine were found to be good substrates for this enzyme. Vmax = 14.1, 8.1, and 6.1 mumoles O2/min/mg protein for each substrate, respectively. This enzyme appears to be associated with egg production and thus may be a useful marker for biochemical and immunological studies.