Spectroscopic studies on the denaturation of papain solubilized and triton X-100 - solubilized glucoamylase from rabbit small intestine

Abstract

Intestinal brush border proteins consist of an enzymatically active hydrophilic moiety attached to a hydrophobic tail. Papain dissociates the hydrophilic part by cleaving off the hydrophobic tail, whereas the detergentTriton X-100 solubilizes the whole molecule. Denaturation by 8 M urea or 4 M guanidinium chloride does not alter the structure of the papain-solubilized enzyme. An appreciable alteration of the structure of detergent-solubilized enzyme was observed on denaturation. The difference spectra of Triton X-100 (1%)-solubilized enzyme and its urea denatured form shifts and intensifies, with increase in the concentration of the denaturant with an isobestic point at 252 nm. A new band at 280 nm also appears at 4 M urea concentration. Papain-solubilized glucoamylase has an ∝ -helical conformation in solution unlike the detergentsolubilized fraction. An elongated structure for the papain solubilized enzyme is inferred from the urea denaturation studies and from molecular weight determinations.