Inhibition of cruzipain, the major cysteine proteinase of the protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, by proteinase inhibitors of the cystatin superfamily.

VERONIKA STOKA A, MARIA NYCANDER B, BRIGITA LENARCIC A, CARLOS LABRIOLA C, JUAN JOSE CAZZULO C, INGEMAR BJORK B, VITO TURK A

FEBS letters

Elsevier Science B.V

Lugar: Netherlands; Año: 1995 vol. 370 p. 101 - 104

1873-3468

Cruzipain, the major cysteine proteinase from Trypanosomacruzi epimastigotes, purified to a sequentially pureform, exists in multiple forms with pl values between 3.7 and 5.1,and an apparent molecular mass of 41 kDa. The enzyme is stablebetween pH 4.5-9.5. Cruzipain was found to be rapidly andtightly inhibited by various protein inhibitors of the cystatin superfamily(ka. = 1.7-79 × 106 M-Is -1, K d = 1.4-72 pM). Theseresults suggest a possible defensive role for the host´s cystatinsafter parasite infection, and may be of use for the design of newtherapeutic drugs.