Preparation and characterization of a dextran-trypsin conjugate.

Bovine pancreatic trypsin was coupled to dextran after activation of the polysaccharide by cyanogen bromide. The soluble dextran-trypsin conjugated was purified by molecular sieve chromatography. After coupling, 53% of the esterase activity of trypsin remained, but the conjugate had only 7% of the caseinolytic activity of the native enzyme. The modified trypsin showed greater resistance than the native enzyme to inactivation by heat treatment, autodigestion, or denaturing agents, and was also more resistant to inhibition by trypsin inhibitors, particularly ovomucoid. Treatment with dextranase partly removed the improved stability properties and resistance to inhibition of the trypsin-dextran conjugate. The conjugated enzyme preparation consists of a heterogenous mixture of macromolecular aggregates, each containing many trypsin and many dextran molecules linked together. Intramolecular cross-linking of enzyme molecules by polysaccharide chains is considered to be responsible for stabilization of the tertiary structure of the enzyme molecules in the conjugate.