Glycinin A4A5 subunit digesting protease in soybean seeds.

Endopeptidase was partially purified from the globulin fraction of 4-hr-imbibed soybean seeds. The protease fraction obtained had proteolytic activity on the glycinin A4A5 subunit at both pH 4 and 8. A suitable peptidic substrate for the endopeptidase was isolated from the tryptic digest of the carboxymethylated A4A5 subunit. Using the tryptic peptide of glycinin A5 subunit, a simple assay system for the soybean endopeptidase activity has been established. The activity was significantly inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, indicating the endopeptidase is a serine protease.