Purification and characterization of chymotrypsin from viscera of vermiculated sailfin catfish, Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus, Weber, 1991

Fish Physiol Biochem. 2013 Apr;39(2):121-30. doi: 10.1007/s10695-012-9684-3. Epub 2012 Jul 3.

Abstract

Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus viscera chymotrypsin was purified by fractionation with ammonium sulfate (30-70 % saturation), gel filtration, affinity, and ion exchange chromatography. Chymotrypsin molecular weight was approximately 29 kDa according to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), shown a single band in zymogram. Electrofocusing study suggested being an anionic enzyme (pI ≈ 3.9), exhibiting maximal activity at pH 9 and 50 °C, using Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-p-nitroanilide (SAAPNA) as substrate. Enzyme was effectively inhibited by phenyl methyl sulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) (99 %), and N-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK) (94 %). Enzyme activity was affected by the following ions in decreasing order: Hg(2+), Fe(2+), Cu(2+), Li(1+), Mg(2+), K(1+), Mn(2+), while Ca(2+) had no effect. Chymotrypsin activity decreased continuously as NaCl concentration increased (from 0 to 30 %). K m and V max values were 0.72 ± 1.4 mM and 1.15 ± 0.06 μmol/min/mg of protein, respectively (SAAPNA as substrate). Results suggest the enzyme has a potential application where low processing temperatures are needed, such as in fish sauce production.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Catfishes / metabolism*
  • Chemical Fractionation
  • Chymotrypsin / isolation & purification*
  • Chymotrypsin / metabolism
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel / veterinary
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Kinetics
  • Metals, Heavy / metabolism
  • Mexico
  • Sodium Chloride / metabolism
  • Temperature
  • Viscera / chemistry*

Substances

  • Metals, Heavy
  • Sodium Chloride
  • Chymotrypsin