Isolation and partial purification of phthalate ester hydrolyzing enzyme(s) from the brine shrimp, Artemia

Isolation and 30-fold purification of a di-n-butyl phthalate (DNBP) hydrolyzing enzyme from synchronously hatched larvae of the brine shrimp, Artemia, are reported. The activity of the enzyme increases during larval development simultaneously with the acute toxic action of DNBP on the larvae. The enzyme is not stimulated by 10 mM sodium cholate, is stable for days to weeks in solution at 4 degrees C, indefinitely stable at -70 degrees C and is distinct from the previously reported trypsin- and chymotrypsin-like proteases [1].