Observations on the Action of Mucolytic Enzymes on Salivary Mucoid

Abstract

Salivary mucoid and mucolytic enzyme were prepd. as descr. elsewhere, and in a study of the action of the enzyme prepn. on its substrate, liberation of carbohydrate and reducing sugar was shown. The enzyme prepn. showed alpha-amylase and hyaluronidase activity. alpha-Amylase has no action on salivary mucoid. Hyaluronidase will not liberate reducing sugar unless the mucoid has been previously depolymerised with mucinase or trypsin. These results suggest that both proteolytic and amylolytic enzymes are important components of the salivary mucolytic enzyme system.