Purification, characterization and crystallization of a group of earthworm fibrinolytic enzymes from Eisenia fetida

Biotechnol Lett. 2003 Jul;25(13):1105-9. doi: 10.1023/a:1024196232252.

Abstract

Seven fibrinolytic enzymes were purified from the earthworm Eisenia fetida. The molecular weights of the enzymes were 24663, 29516, 29690, 24201, 24170, 23028 and 29595, and the respective isoelectric points were 3.46, 3.5, 3.5, 3.68, 3.62, 3.94 and 3.46. All the proteases showed different fibrinolytic activity on fibrin plates. Studies on substrate specificity and inhibition indicated that they belonged to different types of serine proteases. N-Terminal sequencing indicated their high homology to those from the earthworm Lumbricus rubellus. All the enzymes have been crystallized.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Crystallization / methods
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / chemistry
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / isolation & purification
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Molecular Weight
  • Oligochaeta / chemistry*
  • Plasminogen / chemistry
  • Serine Endopeptidases / chemistry*
  • Serine Endopeptidases / classification
  • Serine Endopeptidases / isolation & purification*
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Fibrinolytic Agents
  • Plasminogen
  • Serine Endopeptidases