Digestion in Leidynema appendiculata (Leidy, 1850), a nematode parasitic in cockroaches

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Abstract
1. A study of the digestive enzymes present in the nematode Leidynema appendiculata, parasitic in the cockroach, gave the following results.2. An amylase with optimum activity at pH 4·5, is present. Sodium chloride increases activity by 29 % at this pH.3. A maltase, with maximum activity at pH 5·0–6·0, is present. It is completely inhibited by 15 % glycerin.4. Lactase and invertase were not detected.5. A protease, capable of clotting calcified milk, and of splitting gelatin and edestin, with maximum activity at pH 6·0, is present. KCN does not increase activity.6. Peptidases splitting glycyl-glycine, dl-leucyl-glycine and dl-leucyl-glycyl-glycine, and a prolidase splitting glycyl-l-proline are present.7. A lipase hydrolysing glycerol tributyrate, with maximum activity at pH 7·0 is present. Hydrolysis of olive oil and ethyl butyrate was not detected.8. It is concluded that these enzymes are quite distinct from those of the host and that digestion probably takes place over the range of pH 5·5–6·0.

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