EN
Proteasomes or multicatalytic proteinases have recently been discovered in mammalian cells. These enzymes are major non-lysosomal proteinases of eukaryotic cells that can account up to 1% of the soluble cellular protein. Our previous studies indicated that multicatalytic proteinases are present in parasitic nematodes of sheep. In this study we have demonstrated that the method described by Rivett et al. (1994) and used for mammalian cells, can give reasonably good preparations of proteasomes from Trichostrongylus colubriformis infective larvae. Further, the inactivation of proteasomes activity by antisera suggests that enzymatic activity of proteasomes is recognised by the immune system of sheep.