The reaction of azine compounds with proteolytic enzymes

Abstract

The observation of Mar-ston and others, that the addition of safranine or neutral red to a solution of pepsin or trypsin led to the separation of a fiocculent precipitate, was confirmed. With pepsin solutions, the precipitate removed the pepsin from solution but not the trypsin. The optimum conditions of concentration and p h for the complete removal of pepsin from solution by this means were determined and a method was described for the recovery of the precipitated pepsin. Azine dyes did not "poison" the catalytic activity of either pepsin or trypsin. The results gave no support to the view of Marston that the azine nucleus reacts specifically with a protease to form a protease-azine complex.