[Age difference of bone collagen in hydrolysis by Streptomyces griseus protease]

Hydrolysis of the cattle bone insoluble collagen was studied as affected by Streptomyces griseus protease. The enzymic hydrolysis was performed before and after protein decalcination. The amino acidic composition of collagens in young and old animals is the same. Calcium-containing collagen of a young animal is hydrolyzed by Str. griseus protease more intensely than that of an adult one. However protein decalcination not only increases, on the whole, the degree of its splitting by Str. griseus protease but also changes the picture completely: hydrolyzeis of adult animal collagen is much more rapid and deep. Perhaps, collagen protein of bone is more labile with the age, and its strength and resistance increase due to the presence of calcium