Tryptic and chymotryptic proteases released by larvae of the blowfly, lucilia cuprina

Abstract

Proteases released by larvae of the sheep blowfly have been suggested to have a primary role in wound formation and larval nutrition. Assays were carried out on two larval products to analyse the substrate specificity of these proteases, their abundance and approximate molecular weights. Tryptic and chymotryptic activities were found in both products though there were more chymotrypsin-like enzymes in products from 48 h cultures (CESP) than in product collected direct from 48 h larvae (LESP). Sodium dodecyi sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) gels incubated with azocasein showed plaques of major enzyme activity at molecular weights of 20,000 and 26,000 in LESP and at 20,00..