Comparison of detergent versus protease solubilized rat intestinal lactase.

Comparisons between papain- and Triton X-100-solubilized lactase (EC 3.2.1.23) were made in terms of elution from various chromatographic columns and by molecular weight determinations. Using these techniques, no major differences could be detected. Since papain-solubilized enzyme would be cleaved at the hydrophilic-hydrophobic interface and detergent would release the amphipathic enzyme, the lack of detectable differences between purified lactase solubilized by the two agents suggests the existence of a relatively small anchoring moiety in rats when compared to that suggested in previous studies for adult humans.