Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-x5gtn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-01T12:04:25.786Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Digestion in Parasitic Nematodes. III. The Digestion of Proteins

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 November 2009

W. P. Rogers
W. P. Rogers
Affiliation:
From the Institute of Agricultural Parasitology, St. Albans.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Tryptic-like enzymes have been extracted from the intestines and intestinal contents of Ascarts lumbricoides and Strongylus edentatus. The action of these enzymes, in relation to hydrogen ion concentration, has been examined.

The parasite trypsins resembled pancreatic trypsin in that the relative production of “free acid” and “formaldehyde acid” was similar, but though acting only on the alkaline side of the isoelectric points of the substrate proteins, optimum action on gelatin, blood-albumin and casein was obtained at pH 6·2.

The amount of protease extracted from a given weight of S. edentatus tissue was far greater than that from a similar amount of A. lumbricoides. Thus Strongylus digested 4·9 to 8·3 times as much gelatin, 12·5 to 40·9 times as much casein and 2·5 to 5·2 times as much blood-albumin as Ascaris.

Spectroscopic examination of the process of digestion of oxyhaemoglobin showed, first, the formation of reduced haemoglobin and then the formation of haematin. These changes took place most rapidly at higher hydrogen ion concentrations.

Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 19 , Issue 1-2 , June 1941 , pp. 47 - 58
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1941

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Harrow, B. & Sherwin, C. P., 1935.— “A Textbook of Biochemistry.” Saunders: Philadelphia.Google Scholar
Henriques, V. & Sorensen, S.P.L., 1909.— “Über die quantitative Bestimmung der Aminosauren, Polypeptide und der Hippursaure im Harne durch Formoltitration.” Hoppe-Seyl. Z., lxiv (2), 120–143. (W.L. 9650.)Google Scholar
Northrop, J. H., 1922.— “The mechanism of the influence of acids and alkalies on the digestion of proteins by pepsin and trypsin.” J. gen. Physiol., v (2), 263–274. (W.L. 11210.)Google Scholar
Rogers, W. P., 1940a.—” Digestion in parasitic Nematodes. I. The digestion of carbohydrates.” J. Helminth., xviii (2/3). 143–154. (W.L. 11224b.)Google Scholar
Rogers, W. P., 1940b.— “Haematological studies on the gut contents of certain Nematode andTrematodeparasites.” J.Helminth., xviii (1), 53–62. (W.L. 11224b.)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rogers, W. P., 1940c.— “The occurrence of zinc and other metals in the intestine of Strongylus spp.” J. Helminth., xviii (2/3), 103–116. (W.L. 11224b.)Google Scholar
Rogers, W. P., 1941.— “Digestion in parasitic Nematodes. II. The digestion of fats.” J. Helminth, xix (1/2), 35–46. (W.L. 11224b.)Google Scholar
Schlottke, E., 1937.— “Untersuchungen ūber die Verdauungsfermente der Insekten. II. Die Fermente der Laub- und Feldheuschrecken und ihre Abhangigkeit von der Lebensweise.” Z. vergl. Physiol, xxiv (3), 422–450. (W.L. 23616a.)Google Scholar
Wigglesworth, V. B., 1928.— “Digestion in the cockroach. III. The digestion of proteins and fats.” Biochem. J., xxii (1), 150–161. (W.L. 2967.)Google Scholar