Isolation of a Thiol-Dependent Serine Protease in Peanut and Investigation of Its Role in the Complement and the Allergic Reaction.

•First isolation of protease activity in peanut (Arachis hypogaea) and characterisation as thiol-serine protease.•Direct action of protease in cleavage of complement C3 and C5, producing both anaphylatoxins C3a and C5a, in an independent way of complement activation.•Induction of the MAC complex (Sc5b-9) by peanut proteolytic activity.•Effect of peanut protease on occludin of tight junction.