[A novel endogeneous inhibitor from hepatopancreas of Kamchatka crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus)]

A novel endogeneous inhibitor from hepatopancreas of Kamchatka crab (Paralithosed camtschaticus) was isolatyed. The inhibitor was purifeid through fractional affinity chromatography on gramicidin-diasorb followed by gel-filtration at Sephadex G-100. The inhibitor PC is a protein (M, 66 kDa) and active against serine collagenolytic protease PC at temperature optimum 15-20 degrees C, stable at 4-40 degrees C and was completely inactivated after heating to 50 degrees C and higher. 0.9-20% NaCl is necessary for its inhibitor activity. The inhibitor was found to slow down cell spreading in vitro in cell type-dependent manner. Fibroblasts are most prone to inhibitory effect, epithelial tumor derived cells show medium susceptibility, while fibrosarcoma cells were not affected.