Acetylation of Trypsin in Organic Solvents

Abstract

PREVIOUS work in this laboratory has shown that treatment of trypsin with various anhydrides results in the formation of the corresponding acyltrypsin derivatives, each possessing some interesting properties of its own, while all retained their original proteolytic activity¹. From the derivatives so far prepared, acetyltrypsin is the best-characterized chemically modified enzyme², while succinyltrypsin is the most stable of the derivatives so far obtained³. The use of water as a solvent in investigating enzyme modification sets some definite limitations as to type of reagent usable and as to reactions possible. It was with these experiences in mind that the study of acetylation of trypsin was pursued in two organic solvents, formamide and dimethylsulphoxide, Hees and Singer⁴ having indicated the compatibility of these systems.