It has been reported that F. hepatica thiol-activated
proteolytic enzymes secreted by migrating parasites cleave
larval cestode (Liu et al., 1996) and a shrimp (Boulay et al.,
1998) have been reported. In the present paper, we describe
the gene structure of a cathepsin L from F. gigantica and
compare it with those of known cathepsins L from other
organisms with a phylogenetic analysis. In addition, the
function of the pro-region is also discussed using recombinant
F. gigantica procathepsin L.