Compositional analysis of proteins following hydrolysis by immobilized proteases.

Pronase, proteinase K, carboxypeptidases A and B, aminopeptidase M, intestinal mucosa exopeptidases and prolidase, immobilized to derivatized controlled-pore glass beads, were used in a study of total enzymic hydrolysis of proteins. The combined use of immobilized enzymatic and acid hydrolysis, for assessment of protein quality, will give a more accurate chemical score than that afforded by acid hydrolysis alone. Amino acid analysis of enzymic hydrolysates of native protein substrates (beta-lactoglobulin and insulin) yielded 92% of the theoretical values and 103% of the values observed for standard acid hydrolysates. These results suggest that using a combination of immobilized proteases in concert gives essentially total hydrolysis of protein substrates in a time period (18-24 h) comparable to conventional acid hydrolysis methods.