• The Korean Journal of Soil Zoology
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.101-106
• /
• 1999

Fibrinolytic enzyme is thought to be involved in extracellular matrix remodeling during regeneration. We investigated the expression and characterization fibrinolytic enzyme activity during earthworm tail regeneration. Electrophoretic analysis of fibrinolytic enzymes induced during regeneration revealed that at least seven types of fibrinolytic enzymes were expressed, which had molecular weight of 12, 19, 23, 27, 32, 45 and 58 kDa, respectively. These fibrinolytic enzyme activities were dramatically increased within 1 day after amputation. These activities were maintained by 7 days postamputation, followed by decrease to control level from 14 days after amputation. Alltypes of fibrinolytic enzyme activities were inhibited by treatment of PMSF and aprotinin, and were insensitive to EDTA and exogenous Ca$^{2+}$. These results indicate that the fibrinolytic enzymes are serineproteinase. Other characteristics including specificities for extracellular matrix proteins are under investigation. Based on these results, we are trying to find out the relationship among expression of proteinases, extracellular matrix remodeling, and dedifferentiation, which are believed to be essential processes during regeneration.