Some effects of the fungal proteinase EL 25-79 on human blood

The anticlotting properties of the fungal protease EL 25-79 have been assayed using freshly collected human and bovine blood and sodium-citrate-treated samples. 0.1% EL 25-79 was sufficient to prevent clotting. At this concentration, the protease provokes only a limited proteolysis of major plasma proteins, and at the same time does not digest the hemoglobin contained in the erythrocyte, because it is protected by the cell membrane. The kinetic studies on the enzyme action were performed using both fibrinogen and albumin. The data show that the ratio between the initial velocity of hydrolysis of human fibrinogen and human albumin at enzyme concentrations close to zero is 85. The SDS PAGE analyses of the protein patterns of the corresponding samples for the kinetic study confirmed these data.