Inhibitory effect of dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate on pepsin activity

The inhibitory effect of dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate of hog pepsin activity was investigated over the pH 1.5-3.0 range. The inhibitory effect was studied using a natural substrate, hemoglobin, and a synthetic substrate, N-acetyl-L-phenylalanyl-L-diiodotyrosine. The mechanistic studies revealed that a substrate-inhibitor interaction was the major mechanism of inhibition with hemoglobin. However, some direct enzyme inhibition also was involved. With the synthetic substrate, the inhibition was due to a competition between the substrate and inhibitor molecules for the enzyme. The possible therapeutic significance of the inhibitory effect of the medicinal surfactant is discussed.