[Cathepsin L-like activity in hemolymph of females crammed with Boophilus microplus]

The cysteine-proteinase activity present in the hemolymph of females crammed with Boophilus microplus at the second oviposition was proved. The enzyme assay was performed using the synthetic N-carbobenzoxi-phenilalanyl-arginil-4-metoxibetan++ +-naphthylamide substrate, and hydrolysis in both raw ovarim extract and hemolymph were observed. The activity was 100% inhibited by trans-epoxisuscinyl-L-leucidamide (4-guadinine) butane, an specific inhibitor for cysteine-proteinase. Polyacrylamide and gelatin-gel electrophoresis showed the existence of only one active band in both samples tested with the same electrophoretic sliding (approximately 38 kDa).