Formation of Enzymatically Active, Dialysable Fragments during Autodigestion of Pepsin

Abstract

NORTHROP and co-workers have shown¹ that pepsin in solution digests itself with the formation of material soluble in trichloroacetic acid. The amount of non-protein substance formed depends upon factors such as time, temperature, and the pH and composition of the solvent. It has now been found in this laboratory that if autodigestion of pepsin proceeds at pH values removed from those optimal for proteolysis, pH 1.5-2.0, activity can be recovered in the non-protein fraction.