Acarologia (2003) 43, 239-247

A. Fernández-Calienes Valdés, J. Mendiola Martínez, H. Hernández Alvarez, C.M. Finlay Villalvilla and M. Valdés Rodríguez (2003)
Cisteíno proteinasas en el ovario de Boophilus microplus
Acarologia 43 (3), 239-247
Abstract: In this study on the acid proteolytic activity in the ovary of Boophilus microplus vitellogenic females, the inhibition assays showed the predominance of cysteine proteinase activity. Due to substrate specificity and pH dependency, cysteine proteinase activity appeared to be represented by cathepsin L-like and B-like activities, the first one with the most specific activity. Both activities increased in the first four days after oviposition reaching a maximum at day 2. The total ovary protein at this period developed a similar kinetic suggesting an association between cysteine proteinases and egg protein formation. The cathepsin L-like activity showed a significant increase with repletion due to the presence of a new active fraction (CP_L), obtained from an anion exchange chromatography suggesting its closer relationship with vitellogenesis. CP_L was activated at acid pH with a decrease in its molecular mass (275 kDa to 40-50 kDa), determined by gel filtration chromatography.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
(original language: Spanish)

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
molecular biology - genes

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Rhipicephalus microplus		Cuba