Bodo sp., a free-living flagellate, expresses divergent proteolytic activities from the closely related parasitic trypanosomatids.

Full Abstract

We report the characterization of cell-associated and extracellular peptidases of Bodo sp., a free-living flagellate of the Bodonidae family, order Kinetoplastida, which is considered ancestral to the trypanosomatids. This bodonid isolate is phylogenetically related to Bodo caudatus and Bodo curvifilus. The proteolytic activity profiles of Bodo sp. were determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis containing co-polymerized gelatin, casein, hemoglobin, or bovine serum albumin as substrates. The enzymatic complex degraded gelatin better in acidic pH, and under these conditions four proteolytic bands (120, 100, 90, and 75 kDa) were detected in the cellular or extracellular extracts. Two peptidases (250 and 200 kDa) were exclusively detected with the substrate casein. All these enzymes belong to the serine peptidase class, based on inhibition by aprotinin and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride. This is the first biochemical characterization of peptidases in a free-living Bodo sp., potentially providing insight into the physiology of these protozoa and the evolutionary importance of peptidases to the order Kinetoplastida as some of these enzymes are important virulence factors in pathogenic trypanosomatids.

Author information

Author/s: D'Avila-Levy, Claudia M (CM); Volotão, Aline C C (AC); Araújo, Fernanda M (FM); de Jesus, José B (JB); Motta, Maria Cristina M (MC); Vermelho, Alane B (AB); Santos, André L S (AL); Branquinha, Marta H (MH);

Affiliation: Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. davila.levy(-atsign-)ioc.fiocruz.br

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology (J Eukaryot Microbiol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: -2009 Sep-Oct; vol 56 (issue 5) : pp 454-8

Dates: Created 2009/09/09; Completed 2009/11/02;

PMID: 19737198, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/2/2009, IMS Date: )

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals
Aprotinin - pharmacology
Cluster Analysis
Cocos - parasitology
DNA, Protozoan - chemistry; genetics
DNA, Ribosomal - chemistry; genetics
Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel - methods
Enzyme Inhibitors - pharmacology
Genes, rRNA
Kinetoplastida - enzymology

Kinetoplastida - enzymology
Molecular Sequence Data
Molecular Weight
Phenylmethylsulfonyl Fluoride - pharmacology
Phylogeny
Protozoan Proteins - analysis; chemistry; genetics
RNA, Protozoan - genetics
RNA, Ribosomal, 18S - genetics
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Serine Endopeptidases - analysis; chemistry; genetics

Associated Chemicals: DNA, Protozoan (0) ; DNA, Ribosomal (0) ; Enzyme Inhibitors (0) ; Protozoan Proteins (0) ; RNA, Protozoan (0) ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S (0) ; Phenylmethylsulfonyl Fluoride (329-98-6) ; Aprotinin (9087-70-1) ; Serine Endopeptidases (EC 3.4.21.-)

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