A collagenase in extracts of the invertebrate Bipalium kewense

The localization, isolation and partial characterization of a collagenolytic enzyme from the land planarian Bipalium kewense is described. This enzyme can be obtained by direct extraction of the organism, and can be separated from non-collagenous proteolytic activity by (NH(4))(2)SO(4) precipitation and Sephadex-gel chromatography. Its mode of attack on collagen and sensitivity to a variety of inhibitors indicate that this enzyme differs from vertebrate collagenases and a previously described invertebrate collagenase.