Developing a rapid throughput screen for detection of nematicidal activity of plant cysteine proteinases: the role of Caenorhabditis elegans cystatins.

摘要: Plant cysteine proteinases (CPs) from papaya (Carica papaya) are capable of killing parasitic nematode worms in vitro and have been shown to possess anthelmintic effects vivo. The acute damage reported gastrointestinal parasites has not found free-living nematodes such as Caenorhabditis elegans nor among the stages nematodes. This apparent difference susceptibility might be result active production proteinase inhibitors (such cystatins) by or species. To test this possibility, a supernatant extract refined latex (PLS) with known enzyme content was used. effect on wild-type (Bristol N2) cystatin null mutant (cpi-1(-/-) cpi-2(-/-)) C. concentration-, temperature- time-dependent. Cysteine digested worm cuticle leading release internal structures consequent death. Both strains were highly susceptible PLS attack irrespective temperature concentration exposure, whereas N2 generally resistant but far more at low temperatures. able induce elevated cpi-1 cpi-2 expression. We conclude that deploy cystatins CPI-1 CPI-2 resist CP attack. results suggest mutants (or double combination two) could provide cheap effective rapid throughput elegans-based assay for screening plant extracts activity.