Physico-chemical characteristics of superoxide dismutase in Ascaris suum

1. Three SOD isoenzymes obtained from purified extracts of Ascaris suum were characterized. 2. The physico-chemical characteristics studied were: optimum pH, methods of preservation of enzymatic activity, molecular weight, and the u.v. and visible light absorption spectra. 3. The optimum pH for the Cu, Zn SOD I and II was 10.2 and 10.1 for the Mn SOD. 4. The extracts retained their levels of activity longer at -70 degrees C, and after lyophilization. The Mn SOD was more labile than the Cu, Zn SOD I and II. 5. The molecular weights obtained by filtration through Sephadex G-75 were: 73,000 for Mn SOD; 42,600 for Cu, Zn SOD I; and 39,800 for the Cu, Zn SOD II. 6. Both the u.v. and visible light spectra were similar to other dismutases from other sources.