Sensitive Assay for Proteases in Sterile Milk

Abstract

A sensitive assay for protease activity based on the reaction of primary amino groups of trichloroacetic acid-soluble peptides and amino acids with fluorescamine was applied to sterile milk. The assay was linear in the range of 2-50 nmol of amino groups/aliquot. The assay is suitable for determining proteolytic activity in sterile milk products and for determining protease activity in general.