SELECTIVE ACTIVATION OF STRESS PROTEINS IN THE MUSCLE OF THE PARASITIC WORM ASCARIS SUUM FROM PIG INTESTINE

摘要

The major tissues of Ascaris suum contain the stress proteins (HSP) corresponding to the HSP70 and HSP90 family. Western blot analysis determined that in muscle, intestine and reproductive tract, the HSP70 family was the most abundant stress protein. Two forms of immunoreactive HSP70 proteins were detected. The concentrations of HSP72 protein were 1.9, 2.3, and 0.76 μg/mg protein in intestine, muscle and reproductive tract, respectively. Constitutive levels of the HSP52 protein, which was also detected with the HSP70 antibody, were 0.80, 5.8, and 0.34 μg/mg in intestine, muscle and reproductive tract, respectively. Further studies on the HSP70 proteins in muscle revealed that the HSP72 protein is a cytoplasmic protein whereas the HSP52 was equally distributed in the soluble and particulate fraction of the muscle. In contrast, both proteins appeared to be cytoplasmic in intestine and reproductive tract. Parasites maintained ex vivo at 37℃ or 40℃ showed a 2-fold increase in both HSP72 and HSP52, consistent with results in other organisms which suggest that parasites mount only a modest heat stress response. By contrast, maintenance of Ascaris suum, an essentially anaerobic organism, in an oxygen atmosphere resulted in a 4-fold increase in HSP52, but no change in HSP72 levels. Collectively, the data suggest that the parasite Ascaris suum responds to selective stresses which may occur in its micro environment.