Partial Characterization of a Crude Enzyme Extract from the Freshwater Prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii

ABSTRACT The activity of a crude enzyme preparation extracted from hepatopancreas of the freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium‐rosenbergii , was assayed for collagenolytic, trypsinolytic, α‐chymotrypsinolytic, and pepsinolytic activities against collagen, lyophilized prawn tissue, and artificial substrates. At optimum pH for each activity, the enzyme preparation had collagenolytic activitiy, slight trypsinolytic and α‐chymotrypsinolytic activities; and no pepsinolytic activity. Of the commercial enzymes tested, only collagenase significantly degraded lyophilized prawn tissue. These results suggest that the prawn enzyme preparation may contain a collagenolytic portion which might affect the texture of the prawn.