Complex formation of trypsin with alpha2 macroglobulin results in marked changes of the Michaelis-Menten constant, pH optimum and sensitivity to ionic strength in a system using N-carbobenzoxy-glycylglycyl-L-arginine-2-naphthylamide as substrate. 2. In contrasts to the inhibition (50%) observed when alpha2 macroglobulin-bound trypsin is assayed under conditions optimal for the free enzyme, there is minimal reduction of activity when determinations are performed at a substrate concentration and pH optimal for the bound enzyme. 3. The changes in substrate concentration and ionic environment required for maximum activity of alpha2 macroglobulin-bound trypsin are similar to those observed with enzymes embedded in polyelectrolyte matrices and may reflect alterations in the microenvironment of the enzyme resulting from conformational changes of the macromolecule during interaction with trypsin. 4. Enzymatic activity of trypsin towards casein is greatly reduced by alpha2 macroglobulin, even under assay conditions optimal for the bound enzyme, confirming previous findings that access to the active center for high-molecular weight substrates is sterically hindered by alpha2 macroglobulin.
