Characterization of a naturally occurring protease inhibitor in the hemolymph of the scorpion, Heterometrus bengalensis

A protease inhibitor has been purified by ultracentrifugation, affinity chromatography on trypsin-sepharose 4B, and chromatofocusing on PBE-94 from hemolymph of the scorpion Heterometrus bengalensis. Homogeneity of the protease inhibitor was demonstrated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The protease inhibitor is a monomeric glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 120,000 dalton, which is stable between pH 4 and pH 8. The molecule inhibits serine proteases like trypsin and α-chymotrypsin and shows a noncompetitive mode of inhibition towards trypsin, with a Ki value of 6.1 × 10⁻⁶ mM. Amino acid analysis shows a preponderance of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, serine, and glycine. The protease inhibitor is efficient in inhibiting phenoloxidase activity in both the hemolymph and the isolated phenoloxidase. Melanin synthesis by phenoloxidase may be influenced by this protease inhibitor.