Characterization of a stable intermediate in the unfolding of diazoacetylglycine ethyl ester--pepsin by urea.

The irreversible unfolding of covalently inhibited swine pepsin by urea was studied by spectrophotometric and viscosity measurements. At pH 4.5 and 25 degrees C in 8 M urea, a stable intermediate form of the protein was detected. It differed from the native protein by a slight loss of secondary structure and an increased intrinsic viscosity ([pi] = 7.5 mL g-1), indicating the intermediate to have an increased molecular volume or to be more asymmetric in shape. The protein was transformed into a random coil form by increases of temperature and pH. Comparison with other results suggested that at pH 6 pepsin is less stable than its inactive precursor, pepsinogen, by about 3 Kcal mol-1 (1 cal = 4.187 J).