SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC ASSAY CURVES AS ANOMALOUS INDICATORS OF PROTEOLYSIS OF OILSEED PROTEINS

The methods of Anson (1938) and Lowry et al. (1951) were used to measure proteolysis of peanut proteins with and without papain. Spectrophotometric and colorimetric measurements of optical density for continuous assay of proteolysis in reaction mixtures yielded apparent hydrolysis curves, even in reactions that did not contain an added protease. Acceptance of these values as the sole criterion for proteolysis could lead to anomalous interpretations of results. The combined use of the above methods with disc gel electrophoresis gives a more accurate analysis of protein degradation by proteolysis.