Identification of cathepsin B,D and H in the larval midgut of colorado potato beetle,Leptinotarsa decemlineata say (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

The larval midgut of the Colorado beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata contains cathepsin B, D and H activity detected by use of haemoglobin, synthetic substrates specific for each enzyme, pH at which the substrate was maximally hydrolysed and effects of potential activators and inhibitors on proteolytic activity. Cysteine proteases cathepsin B, and H were activated by thiol compounds and inhibited by iodoacetamide, TLCK and epoxysuccinyl-leucyl-amido(guanidino)butane (E-64) a cysteine specific proteinase inhibitor. Cathepsin B was distinguished from H by hydrolysis of benzoyloxycarbonyl-Ala-Arg-Arg-methoxynaphthylamide, a cathepsin B specific substrate and inhibition of substrate hydrolysis by leupeptin. Cathepsin H activity, detected using the specific substrate arginine-naphthylamide, was insensitive to leupeptin. Cathepsin D had maximal activity at pH 4.5 and was inhibited by pepstatin, an aspartic proteinase inhibitor.     

Lysosomal function in the degradation of defective collagen in cultured lung fibroblasts

Human fibroblasts when induced to make nonhelical , defective collagen have mechanisms for degrading up to 30% of their newly synthesized collagen intracellularly prior to secretion. To determine if at least a portion of the degradation of defective collagen occurs by lysosomes, extracts of cultured HFL-1 fibroblasts were examined for proteinases capable of degrading denatured type I [3H]procollagen. The majority of the proteolytic activity against denatured [3H]-procollagen had a pH optimum of 3.5-4; it was stimulated by dithiothreitol and inhibited 95% by leupeptin, 10% by pepstatin, and 98% by leupeptin and pepstatin together. Extracts of purified lysosomes from the fibroblasts were active in degrading denatured [3H]procollagen and were completely inhibited by leupeptin and pepstatin. To demonstrate directly that human lung fibroblasts can translocate a portion of their defective collagen to lysosomes, cultured cells were incubated with cis-4-hydroxyproline and labeled with [14C]proline to cause the cells to make nonhelical [14C]procollagen. About 3% of the total intracellular hydroxy[14C]proline was found in lysosomes. If, however, the cells were also treated with NH4Cl, an inhibitor of lysosomal function, 18% of the intracellular hydroxy[14C]proline was found in lysosomes. These results demonstrate that cultured human lung fibroblasts induced to make defective collagen are capable of shunting a portion of such collagen to their lysosomes for intracellular degradation.     

Proteinase activities in quiescent and germinating seeds of xHaynaldoticum sardoum

Breakdown of gliadin during germination of xHaynaldoticum sardoum Meletti et Onnis seeds is correlated with the appearance in the endosperms of a proteinase activity, which is absent in the quiescent seed. This activity is optimal at pH 4 and has a maximum stability at pH 4–5. Gel filtration of proteinase activity extracted from quiescent seeds indicates a molecular weight of 60–100 kDa. The proteinase can hydrolyze hemoglobin but not gliadin and is inhibited by pepstatin A and, to a lower extent, by p -chloromercuribenzoic acid (p-CMB). Gel filtrations of crude extracts from germinating seeds reveal two peaks (molecular weight 66 and 21 kDa) of activity against hemoglobin and a shoulder and a peak (molecular weight 21 kDa) of activity on gliadin. The first peak of activity against hemoglobin is inhibited by pepstatin A and p-CMB; the second one is inhibited by p-CMB and leupeptin. As for the gliadin-eluted activity the shoulder is mainly inhibited by pepstatin A and p-CMB, whereas the peak is inhibited by p-CMB and leupeptin. Estimations of the ratios of total nitrogen to α-amino nitrogen, suggest that the enzyme preparations mainly contain proteinases. It is concluded that the proteinases present in the quiescent seeds of xH. sardoum , in particular aspartic proteinases (EC 3.4.23), could play a role as initiator endoproteases or participate in the digestion of modified proteins during the mobilization of reserve proteins. The cysteine proteinases (EC 3.4.22) appearing during the germination seem to account for the hydrolysis of the most abundant class of protein reserves, the prolamins.     

Effects of lysosomal proteinase inhibition on the development of the rat embryo in vitro

Altered lysosomal function in the visceral yolk sac can result in abnormal development. As proteolysis is an important function of the rodent visceral yolk sac during early and mid-gestation, we characterized the lysosomal proteolytic enzyme activity of this extraembryonic membrane and determined the effects of inhibitors of protein degradation on embryonic development. Constituent activities of cysteine and aspartic acid proteinases were measured in rat visceral yolk sac on gestation day 12, and the effects of the cysteine proteinase inhibitors leupeptin, E-64 [trans-epoxysuccinyl-l-leucylamido(4-guanido)butane] and N-ethylmaleimide and the aspartic acid proteinase inhibitor pepstatin were determined in Sprague-Dawley rat embryos cultured in vitro from gestation days 10-12. It was determined that only cysteine proteinases, primarily cathepsins B and L, are active in the mid-gestation visceral yolk sac. The cysteine proteinase inhibitors leupeptin and E-64 both produced a concentration-related decrease in embryonic growth, as measured by crown-rump length, somite number, and embryonic protein content, and a concentration-related increase in incidence of abnormalities. A characteristic pattern of abnormalities was produced which involved a decrease in neural tube volume and the formation of a subectodermal blister opposite the point of attachment of the vitelline vessels. At high concentrations, anophthalmia was also observed. The decreased neural tube volume was associated with increased osmolality of the exocoelomic fluid, the major extraembryonic fluid compartment. It is possible that the osmotic change decreased neural tube volume by causing water to move to the compartment with a higher solute concentration, out of the embryo.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Degradations of human immunoglobulins and hemoglobin by a 60 kDa cysteine proteinase of Trichomonas vaginalis

The present study was undertaken to investigate the role of cysteine proteinase of Trichomonas vaginalis in escaping from host defense mechanism. A cysteine proteinase of T. vaginalis was purified by affinity chromatography and gel filtration. Optimum pH for the purified proteinase activity was 6.0. The proteinase was inhibited by cysteine and serine proteinase inhibitors such as E-64, NEM, IAA, leupeptin, TPCK and TLCK, and also by Hg²⁺, but not affected by serine-, metallo-, and aspartic proteinase inhibitors such as PMSF, EDTA and pepstatin A. However, it was activated by the cysteine proteinase activator, DTT. The molecular weight of a purified proteinase was 62 kDa on gel filtration and 60 kDa on SDS-PAGE. Interestingly, the purified proteinase was able to degrade serum IgA, secretory IgA, and serum IgG in time- and dose-dependent manners. In addition, the enzyme also degraded hemoglobin in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that the acidic cysteine proteinase of T. vaginalis may play a dual role for parasite survival in conferring escape from host humoral defense by degradation of immunoglobulins, and in supplying nutrients to parasites by degradation of hemoglobin.     

Protease activities of rumen protozoa.

Intact, metabolically active rumen protozoa prepared by gravity sedimentation and washing in a mineral solution at 10 to 15 degrees C had comparatively low proteolytic activity on azocasein and low endogenous proteolytic activity. Protozoa washed in 0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) at 4 degrees C and stored on ice autolysed when they were warmed to 39 degrees C. They also exhibited low proteolytic activity on azocasein, but they had a high endogenous proteolytic activity with a pH optimum of 5.8. The endogenous proteolytic activity was inhibited by cysteine proteinase inhibitors, for example, iodoacetate (63.1%) and the aspartic proteinase inhibitor, pepstatin (43.9%). Inhibitors specific for serine proteinases and metalloproteinases were without effect. The serine and cysteine proteinase inhibitors of microbial origin, including antipain, chymostatin, and leupeptin, caused up to 67% inhibition of endogenous proteolysis. Hydrolysis of casein by protozoa autolysates was also inhibited by cysteine proteinase inhibitors. Some of the inhibitors decreased endogenous deamination, in particular, phosphoramidon, which had little inhibitory effect on proteolysis. Protozoal and bacterial preparations exhibited low hydrolytic activities on synthetic proteinase and carboxypeptidase substrates, although the protozoa had 10 to 78 times greater hydrolytic activity (per milligram of protein) than bacteria on the synthetic aminopeptidase substrates L-leucine-p-nitroanilide, L-leucine-beta-naphthylamide, and L-leucinamide. The aminopeptidase activity was partially inhibited by bestatin. It was concluded that cysteine proteinases and, to a lesser extent, aspartic proteinases are primarily responsible for proteolysis in autolysates of rumen protozoa. The protozoal autolysates had high aminopeptidase activity; low deaminase activity was observed on endogenous amino acids.     

Protease activities of rumen protozoa

Intact, metabolically active rumen protozoa prepared by gravity sedimentation and washing in a mineral solution at 10 to 15 degrees C had comparatively low proteolytic activity on azocasein and low endogenous proteolytic activity. Protozoa washed in 0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) at 4 degrees C and stored on ice autolysed when they were warmed to 39 degrees C. They also exhibited low proteolytic activity on azocasein, but they had a high endogenous proteolytic activity with a pH optimum of 5.8. The endogenous proteolytic activity was inhibited by cysteine proteinase inhibitors, for example, iodoacetate (63.1%) and the aspartic proteinase inhibitor, pepstatin (43.9%). Inhibitors specific for serine proteinases and metalloproteinases were without effect. The serine and cysteine proteinase inhibitors of microbial origin, including antipain, chymostatin, and leupeptin, caused up to 67% inhibition of endogenous proteolysis. Hydrolysis of casein by protozoa autolysates was also inhibited by cysteine proteinase inhibitors. Some of the inhibitors decreased endogenous deamination, in particular, phosphoramidon, which had little inhibitory effect on proteolysis. Protozoal and bacterial preparations exhibited low hydrolytic activities on synthetic proteinase and carboxypeptidase substrates, although the protozoa had 10 to 78 times greater hydrolytic activity (per milligram of protein) than bacteria on the synthetic aminopeptidase substrates L-leucine-p-nitroanilide, L-leucine-beta-naphthylamide, and L-leucinamide. The aminopeptidase activity was partially inhibited by bestatin. It was concluded that cysteine proteinases and, to a lesser extent, aspartic proteinases are primarily responsible for proteolysis in autolysates of rumen protozoa. The protozoal autolysates had high aminopeptidase activity; low deaminase activity was observed on endogenous amino acids.     

Inhibition of early but not late proteolytic processing events leads to the missorting and oversecretion of precursor forms of lysosomal enzymes in Dictyostelium discoideum

Lysosomal enzymes are initially synthesized as precursor polypeptides which are proteolytically cleaved to generate mature forms of the enzymatically active protein. The identification of the proteinases involved in this process and their intracellular location will be important initial steps in determining the role of proteolysis in the function and targeting of lysosomal enzymes. Toward this end, axenically growing Dictyostelium discoideum cells were pulse radiolabeled with [35S]methionine and chased in fresh growth medium containing inhibitors of aspartic, metallo, serine, or cysteine proteinases. Cells exposed to the serine/cysteine proteinase inhibitors leupeptin and antipain and the cysteine proteinase inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-L-phenylalanyl-L-alanine-diazomethyl ketone (Z-Phe- AlaCHN2) were unable to complete proteolytic processing of the newly synthesized lysosomal enzymes, alpha-mannosidase and beta-glucosidase. Antipain and leupeptin treatment resulted in both a dramatic decrease in the efficiency of proteolytic processing, as well as a sevenfold increase in the secretion of alpha-mannosidase and beta-glucosidase precursors. However, leupeptin and antipain did not stimulate secretion of lysosomally localized mature forms of the enzymes suggesting that these inhibitors prevent the normal sorting of lysosomal enzyme precursors to lysosomes. In contrast to the results observed for cells treated with leupeptin or antipain, Z-Phe-AlaCHN2 did not prevent the cleavage of precursor polypeptides to intermediate forms of the enzymes, but greatly inhibited the production of the mature enzymes. The accumulated intermediate forms of the enzymes, however, were localized to lysosomes. Finally, fractionation of cell extracts on Percoll gradients indicated that the processing of radiolabeled precursor forms of alpha-mannosidase and beta-glucosidase to intermediate products began in cellular compartments intermediate in density between the Golgi complex and mature lysosomes. The generation of the mature forms, in contrast, was completed immediately upon or soon after arrival in lysosomes. Together these results suggest that different proteinases residing in separate intracellular compartments may be involved in generating intermediate and mature forms of lysosomal enzymes in Dictyostelium discoideum, and that the initial cleavage of the precursors may be critical for the proper localization of lysosomal enzymes.     

Effect of proteinase inhibitors on intracellular processing of cathepsin B, H and L in rat macrophages

The effects of various proteinase inhibitors on the processing of lysosomal cathepsins B, H and L were investigated in cultured rat peritoneal macrophages. The processing of newly synthesized pro-cathepsins B, H and L to the mature single-chain enzymes was sensitive to a metal chelator,1,10-phenanthroline, and a synthetic metalloendopeptidase substrate, Z-Gly-Leu-NH2, and insensitive to inhibitors of serine proteinases, aspartic proteinases and cysteine proteinases. Inhibitors of cysteine proteinases, E-64-d and leupeptin, inhibited the processing of the single-chain forms of cathepsins B, H and L to the two-chain forms. These results suggest that (a) metal endopeptidase(s) is (are) involved in the propeptide processing of cathepsin B, H and L, and that proteolytic cleavages of the mature single-chain cathepsins are accomplished by cysteine proteinases in lysosomes.     

Increase in proteinase activity in the cellular slime mould Polysphondylium pallidum induced by bacteria

Abstract Polysphondylium pallidum strain PPHU8 grown in association with bacteria contains aspartic and cysteine proteinases. When myxamoebae were grown in axenic medium the contribution of cysteine proteinases was much lower. The proteinase activity could be altered by addition of heat-killed bacteria to axenically growing cells. This was detected as an increase in the specific activity towards N -benzoyl-L-prolyl-L-phenylalanyl-L-arginine- p -nitroanilide, a cysteine proteinase substrate, and by the appearance of cysteine proteinase bands after electrophoretic analysis. The changes were inhibited by cycloheximide, azide and dinitrophenol. All the available evidence suggests that they are due to the de novo synthesis of cysteine proteinases.     

棉铃虫卵内蛋白酶性质研究

在棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera卵母细胞内检测到蛋白酶活性,其作用Ph在酸性范围,酶活性受E-64、Pepstatin和iPr₂P-F等多种抑制剂抑制。在Ph4.0时蛋白酶对牛血红蛋白有较高水解率。抗蓖麻蚕Philosamia cynthia ricini卵半胱氨酸蛋白酶血清和抗蓖麻蚕卵天冬氨酸蛋白酶血清可以识别棉铃虫卵内成分。实验结果表明;棉铃虫卵内可能存在半胱氨酸蛋白酶类、丝氨酸蛋白酶类和天冬氨酸蛋白酶类,并且与蓖麻蚕卵内蛋白酶有一定的相似性。     

The role of aspartic and cysteine proteinases in albumin degradation by rat kidney cortical lysosomes

We have investigated the degradation of 125I-labeled bovine serum albumin by lysates of rat kidney cortical lysosomes. Maximal degradation of albumin occurred at pH 3.5-4.2, with approximately 70% of the maximal rate occurring at pH 5.0. Degradation was proportional to lysosomal protein concentration (range 100-600 micrograms) and time of incubation (1-5 h). Dithioerythritol (2 mM) stimulated albumin degradation 5- to 10-fold. Albumin degradation was not inhibited by phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride (1 mM) or EDTA (5 mM), indicating that neither serine nor metalloproteinases are involved to a significant extent. Pepstatin (5 micrograms/ml), an inhibitor of aspartic proteinases, inhibited albumin degradation by approximately 50%. Leupeptin (10 microM) and N-ethylmaleimide (10 mM), inhibitors of cysteine proteinases, decreased albumin degradation by 34 and 65%, respectively. Combinations of aspartic and cysteine proteinase inhibitors produced nearly complete inhibition of albumin degradation. Taken together, these data indicate that aspartic and cysteine proteinases are primarily responsible for albumin degradation by renal cortical lysosomes under these conditions. In keeping with the above data, we have measured high activities of the cysteine proteinases, cathepsins B, H, and L, in cortical tubules, the major site of renal protein degradation. Using the peptidyl 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin (NHMec) substrates (Z-Arg-Arg-NHMec, for cathepsin B; Arg-NHMec for cathepsin H; and Z-Phe-Phe-CHN2-inhibitable hydrolysis of Z-Phe-Arg-NHMec corrected for inhibition of cathepsin B activity for cathepsin L) values obtained were (means +/- SE, mU/mg protein, 1 mU = production of 1 nM product/min, n = 6): cathepsin B, 2.1 +/- 0.34; cathepsin H, 1.35 +/- 0.19; cathepsin L, 14.49 +/- 1.26. In comparison, the activities of cathepsins B, H, and L in liver were: 0.56 +/- 0.03, 0.28 +/- 0.04, and 1.27 +/- 0.16, respectively.     

Involvement of cysteine proteinases in excystment of Paragonimus ohirai metacercariae induced by sodium cholate and A23187

The involvement of intrinsic proteinases in the excystment of Paragonimus ohirai metacercariae was studied in in vitro excystment induced by sodium (Na) cholate, a bile salt and A23187, a Ca2+ ionophore. The effects of various proteinase inhibitors on the in vitro excystment were examined and similar inhibitory profiles were obtained. Benzyloxycarbonyl-L-leucyl-L-leucinal (Z-Leu-Leu-H), a cysteine proteinase inhibitor and 4-(2-aminoethyl)-benzenesulfonyl fluoride (Pefabloc SC), a serine proteinase inhibitor completely inhibited excystment, while L-3-carboxy-2,3-trans-epoxypropionyl-leucylamido (4-guanidino)-butane (E-64), a cysteine proteinase inhibitor and leupeptin, a cysteine/serine proteinase inhibitor permitted partial excystment at a lower rate, but inhibited it from proceeding from the partial excystment stage. In secretions released from metacercariae during excystment, proteinase activities detected towards various fluorogenic peptidyl substrates were almost completely inhibited by Z-Leu-Leu-H and E-64, but not by Pefabloc SC. Sodium cholate induced a higher secretion of cysteine proteinases and a higher rate of excystment than A23187. Profiles of cysteine proteinase activities towards five peptidyl substrates detected were markedly different among the two secretions and the lysate of newly excysted juveniles. Newly excysted juveniles released cysteine proteinases with similar activity profiles and levels to metacercariae induced by Na cholate-incubation, whereas the release of cysteine proteinases was reduced compared with metacercariae induced by A23187-incubation. These results provide valuable information about the involvement of intrinsic proteinases in metacercarial excystment.     

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.     

Participation of intracellular cysteine proteinases, in particular cathepsin B, in degradation of collagen in periosteal tissue explants

The involvement of cysteine proteinases in the degradation of soft connective tissue collagen was studied in cultured periosteal explants. Using cysteine proteinase inhibitors that were active intracellularly or extracellularly (Ep453 and Ep475, respectively), it was shown that over-all collagen degradation, as measured by the release of hydroxyproline, decreased significantly on inhibition of the intracellular pool of cysteine proteinases by Ep453. This inhibitor also induced an accumulation of intracellular fibrillar collagen in fibroblasts, indicating a decreased degradation of phagocytosed collagen. The extracellular inhibitor, Ep475, had minor or no effects.Histochemical analysis using a substrate for the cysteine proteinases cathepsins B and L revealed a high level of enzyme activity, which was completely blocked in explants preincubated with a selective intracellular inhibitor of cathepsin B, Ca074-Mc. Moreover, the cathepsin B inhibitor strongly affected collagen degradation, decreasing the release of hydroxyproline and increasing the accumulation of phagocytosed collagen. These effects were comparable or slightly stronger than those found with the general intracellular inhibitor (Ep453). Taken together, these data strongly suggest that intracellular cysteine proteinases, in particular cathepsin B, play an important role in the digestion of soft connective tissue collagen.     

Digestive proteinases in Lasioderma serricorne (Coleoptera: Anobiidae)

The cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne (Fabricius), is a common pest of stored foods. A study of digestive proteinases in L. serricorne was performed to identify potential targets for proteinaceous biopesticides, such as proteinase inhibitors. Optimal casein hydrolysis by luminal proteinases of L. serricorne was in pH 8.5-9.0 buffers, although the pH of luminal contents was slightly acidic. Results from substrate and inhibitor analyses indicated that the primary digestive proteinases were serine proteinases. The most effective inhibitors of caseinolytic hydrolysis were from soybean (both Bowman Birk and Kunitz), with some inhibition by chymostatin, N-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone, and leupeptin. Casein zymogram analysis identified at least eight proteolytic activities. Activity blot analyses indicated one major proteinase activity that hydrolysed the trypsin substrate N-alpha-benzoyl-L-arginine rho-nitroanilide, and three major proteinase activities that hydrolysed the chymotrypsin substrate N-succinyl ala-ala-pro-phe rho-nitroanilide. The absence of cysteine, aspartic, and metallo proteinases in L. serricorne digestion was evidenced by the lack of activation by thiol reagents, alkaline pH optima, and the results from class-specific proteinase inhibitors. The data suggest that protein digestion in L. serricorne is primarily dependent on trypsin- and chymotrypsin-like proteinases.     

Potential proteolytic activity of fibronectin: fibronectin laminase and its substrate specificity

The purified 190-kDa fibronectin fragment produced by cathepsin D can be spontaneously activated in the presence of CaCl2. This activation generates new proteolytic activities and also results in the formation of several subfragments. One of them exhibits the activity of FN-gelatinase that preferentially splits type I denatured collagen and fibronectin (see preceding paper). In this work we describe the purification and characterization of another fragment (25 kDa), issued from the same autodigest. This fragment may be activated to yield another proteinase, that splits preferentially laminin and denatured collagen type I. This enzyme will be referred as FN-laminase. Purified FN-laminase specifically reacted with antibodies against fibronectin. The specificity of bond cleavage by FN-laminase was studied with various synthetic peptides analogous to collagen repeats. FN-laminase cleaves the Ala-Gly bond in the sequence GPAGPR; the arginine residue in position P3' is important for this cleavage. The enzyme is inhibited by pepstatin A and phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride, like retroviral aspartic proteinases. It is also inhibited by EDTA. No inhibition was obtained with 1,10-phenanthroline or 4-chloromercuribenzoate, inhibitors of Zn-metalloproteinases or cysteine proteinases, respectively.     

A group-specific inhibitor of lysosomal cysteine proteinases selectively inhibits both proteolytic degradation and presentation of the antigen dinitrophenyl-poly-L-lysine by guinea pig accessory cells to T cells

A limited intralysosomal proteolytic degradation is probably a key event in the accessory cell processing of large protein antigens before their presentation to T cells. With the aid of highly specific inhibitors of proteinases, we have examined the role of proteolysis in the presentation of antigens by guinea pig accessory cells. The proteinase inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-phenylalanylalanine-diazomethyl-ketone, which selectively inhibits cysteine proteinases, was used to block this set of enzymes in cultured cells. We demonstrate that the selective inhibition of the cysteine proteinases of antigen-presenting cells causes a profound inhibition of both the proteolytic degradation and the presentation of the synthetic antigen dinitrophenyl-poly-L-lysine. In contrast, the presentation of another synthetic antigen, the copolymer of L-glutamic acid and L-alanine, was enhanced by the same inhibitor. Another inhibitor, pepstatin A, which selectively blocks aspartic proteinases, did not block the presentation of dinitrophenyl-poly-L-lysine. The results identify cysteine proteinases, probably lysosomal, as one of the groups of enzymes involved in antigen processing.     

Purification, refolding and autoactivation of the recombinant cysteine proteinase EhCP112 from Entamoeba histolytica

The cysteine proteinase EhCP112 and the adhesin EhADH112 assemble to form the EhCPADH complex involved in Entamoeba histolytica virulence. To further characterize this cysteine proteinase, the recombinant full-length EhCP112 enzyme was expressed and purified under denaturing conditions. After a refolding step under reductive conditions, the inactive precursor (ppEhCP112) was processed to a 35.5 kDa mature and active enzyme (EhCP112). The thiol specific inhibitor E-64, but not serine or aspartic proteinase inhibitors arrested this activation process. The activation step of the proenzyme followed by the mature enzyme suggests an autocatalytic process during EhCP112 maturation. The experimentally determined processing sites observed during EhCP112 activation lie close to processing sites of other cysteine proteinases from parasites. The kinetic parameters of the mature EhCP112 were determined using hemoglobin and azocasein as substrates. The proteinase activity of EhCP112 was completely inhibited by thiol inhibitors, E-64, TLCK, and chymostatin, but not by general proteinase inhibitors. Since EhCP112 is a proteinase involved in the virulence of E. histolytica, a reliable source of active EhCP112 is a key step for its biochemical characterization and to carry out future protein structure-function studies.