Protein Breakdown in Thermal Injury.

Abstract

Summary Protein breakdown was observed when skin slices were submitted to heat in vitro. Part of the proteolysis is caused by enzymatic action and the protease responsible for it can be extracted from heated tissue. The results suggest that thermal stimulation acts by converting an inactive enzyme precursor, present in normal tissue, into an active protease. The process described may play a role in the pathogenesis of thermal injury.