Studies on the physico-chemical properties of alhagain

The protease isolated jawasee shrub was found to hydrolyze egg albumin, casein, haemoglobin and gelatin optimally near neutral pH. Fibrin, bovin serum albumin, skin albumin and skin mucoids were hydrolyzed at slightly alkaline pH, while skin globulins were hydrolyzed at slightly acidic pH. The enzyme had no effect of fibrous collagen. The optimum conditions for the hydrolysis of 50 mg of egg albumin were found to be 50 mg of alhagain at pH 6.0 and 45 degrees C for 30 minutes. A Km value of 4.4 X 10(-3) M was obtained from the Lineweaver-Burk plot for the hydrolysis of egg albumin. The enzyme was found to be comparatively thermostable and was most stable at pH 4.7. Ultraviolet irradiation exhibited no appreciable effect on the enzyme activity. The ultraviolet absorption spectrum of alhagain in bi-distilled water resembles those of bromelain and trypsin. The sugar-containing enzyme was found to have a molecular weight of 20,650. The enzymeconsists of 189 amino acid residues per molecule, neutral and acidic amino acids being present in high concentrations. The partial specific volume of alhagain was calculated to be 0.743 ml/g from its amino acid composition. Phenylalnine and arginine formed the amino terminal amino acids of alhagain, while aspartic acid and serine were identified as its carboxy terminal amino acids. Results are discussed with relation to other plant proteases.