Identification, purification, and characterization of a secretory serine protease in an Indian strain of Leishmania donovani

An aprotinin sensitive serine protease was identified in the culture supernatant of the Indian strain of Leishmania donovani (MHOM/IN/1983/AG83). The protease was subsequently purified and characterized. The apparent molecular mass of the enzyme was 115 kDa in SDS-PAGE under non-reducing condition, while on reduction it showed a 56 kDa protein band indicating that the protease is a dimeric protein. The purified enzyme was optimally active at the pH and temperature of 7.5 and 28 degrees C, respectively. Assays of thermal stability indicated that the enzyme preserved 59% of activity even after pretreatment at 42 degrees C for 1 h. The purified protease was not glycosylated and its isoelectric pI was 5.0. N-alpha-p-tosyl-L-arginine methylester (TAME) appeared to be relatively better substrate among the commonly used synthetic substrates. The enzyme was inhibited by Ca2+ and Mn2+, but activated by Zn2+. The protease could play important role(s) in the pathogenesis of visceral leishmaniasis or kala-azar.