[Proteolytic complex from Aspergillus terricola (review)]

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Enzymology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Terrilytin is an anti-inflammatory drug derived from the fungus Aspergillus terricola.
• The drug's composition and enzymatic properties were previously not fully elucidated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the proteolytic enzymes within Terrilytin.
• To understand the enzymatic basis of Terrilytin's anti-inflammatory and fibrinolytic activities.

Main Methods:

• Physico-chemical characterization of isolated enzymes.
• Enzymatic assays to determine protease types and activity.
• Analysis of enzyme interactions with fibrin and fibrinogen.

Main Results:

• Terrilytin is a complex of three proteolytic enzymes and amylase.
• Two proteases (I and II) are serine proteases; Protease III is a zinc-dependent metalloprotease.
• All three proteases exhibit fibrinolytic activity by hydrolyzing fibrin and fibrinogen.

Conclusions:

• Terrilytin's therapeutic effects are attributed to its complex enzymatic profile.
• The identified serine and metalloproteases are key to its fibrinolytic action.
• Further research into microbial metalloproteases and serine proteases is warranted.