Agavain: A new plant proteinase

Abstract

• 1.

  1. A procedure is described for the isolation of a crystalline enzyme from crude sisal extract.

• 2.

  2. The crystalline enzyme has been shown to be homogeneous by electrophoresis, chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, gel filtration on Sephadex, and solubility.

• 3.

  3. The crystalline enzyme is unstable in solution, changing spontaneously to an inactive protein of smaller molecular weight.

• 4.

  4. The identity of the crystalline enzyme with Fraction F obtained by chromatography of the crude enzyme of DEAE-cellulose has been demonstrated.

• 5.

  5. The molecular weight of the enzyme has been determined.

• 6.

  6. The trivial name agavian has been adopted for the enzyme.