The effect of Mg2+ on the Ca2+-binding properties of non-activated phosphorylase kinase.

The calcium binding properties of non-activated phosphorylase kinase at pH 6.8 have been studied by the gel filtration technique at calcium concentrations from 50 nM to 50 muM. Taking into account the subunit structure alpha4beta4gamma4 the enzyme binds 12 mol Ca2+ per mol with an association constant of 6.0 X 10(7) M-1, 4 mol with an association constant of 1.7 X 10(6) M-1 and 36 mol with a binding constant of 3.9 X 10(4) M-1 at low ionic strength. In buffer of high ionic strength, i.e. 180 mM NH4Cl or 60 mM (NH4)2SO4, only a single set of eight binding sites with a binding constant of 5.5 X 10(7) M-1 is left. In a buffer containing 155 mM NH4Cl and 10 mM MgCl2, the calcium affinity of these sites is reduced to a KCa of 3.0 X 10(6) M-1, indicating competition between Ca2+ and Mg2+. From these measurements, the binding constant of Mg2+ for these sites is calculated to be 1.7 X 10(3) M-1 is left. In a buffer containing 155 mM NH4Cl and 10 mM MgCl2, the calcium affinity of these sites is reduced to a KCa of 3.0 X 10(6) M-1, indicating competition between Ca2+ and Mg2+. from these measurements, the binding constant of Mg2+ for these sites is calculated to be 1.7 X 10(3) M-1. Additionally, 10 mM Mg2+ induces a set of four new Ca2+ binding sites which show positive cooperativity. Their half-saturation constant under the conditions described is 3.5 X 10(5) M-1, and they, too, exhibit competition between Ca2+ and Mg2+. Since this set of sites is induced by Mg2+ a third group of binding sites for the latter metal must be postulated.     

A simplified procedure for the purification of rat liver tyrosine aminotransferase.

Rat liver tyrosine aminotransferase was purified by chromatography on CM-Sephadex C-50 and DEAE-cellulose, (NH4)2SO4 fractionation and gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. Livers from 400 rats can be easily worked up by this procedure. Furthermore, this purification method has the advantage that hepatic tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase, which, like tyrosine aminotransferase, is induced by glucocorticosteroids, can be purified from the same homogenate. Tyrosine aminotransferase purified by this method was shown to be specific for 2-oxoglutarate. Its subunits have a molecular weight of 45 000. The following "apparent" Michaelis constants were determined: L-tyrosine, 1.7 X 10(-3) M; 2-oxoglutarate, 5.9 X 10(-4) M; and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, 2.1 X 10(-6) M. Tyrosine aminotransferase, depleted of its cofactors, binds 4 molecules of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate per 90 000 daltons with a KA of 2.2 X 10(5) M-1.     

Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA-dependent RNA polymerases in bovine spermatozoa

DNA-dependent RNA polymerases have been solubilized from separated head and tail fractions from normal bovine spermatozoa and from spermatozoa carrying the 'decapitated sperm defect'. When enzyme extracts from separated heads and tails were chromatographed on DEAE-Sephadex, the head fraction was resolved into 2 distinguishable peaks eluting at about 0.11 and 0.15 M-(NH4)2SO4 while the tail fraction yielded 4 distinct peaks eluting at about 0.11, 0.15, 0.255 and 0.35 M-(NH4)2SO4. Results indentical to those observed for sperm tails were obtained with extracts prepared from highly purified mitochondria from bovine or murine heart or liver. Optimization of reaction parameters and inhibitor studies with alpha-amanitin and rifampicin revealed strong similarities between eucaryotic nuclear RNA polymerases 1 and 2 and the 2 RNA polymerases associated with sperm heads. Similar experiments comparing the RNA polymerases from somatic mitochondria and sperm tails suggested the sperm tail enzymes were mitochondrial in origin.     

Separation and purification of the alkaline phosphatase and a phosphodiesterase from Halobacterium cutirubrum.

1. Halobacterium cutirubrum alkaline phosphatase is associated in crude extracts with a phosphodiesterase. 2. The enzymes were stabilized in buffers containing both (NH4)2SO4 and 10 mM-Mn2+. 3. Adsorption chromatography on Sepharose 6B/agarose-gel columns in the presence of 1.4M-(NH4)2SO4 gave a phosphatase-free phosphodiesterase and the alkaline phosphatase associated with some phosphodiesterase activity. 4. Further chromatography of the separated enzymes gave a good recovery of greater than 600-fold purified phosphodiesterase and greater than 3000-fold purified alkaline phosphatase. 5. The requirements of these enzymes and their relationship to each other was examined. 6. A detailed study showed that the alkaline phosphatase was adsorbed at least partially to agarose and dextran columns at all (NH4)2SO4 concentrations from 0.25 to 2M. 7. In contrast, no adsorption of the enzyme or protein standards was evident in 2.5M-KCl/l M-NaCl or 0.25 M-KCl/0.1 M-NaCl, in agreement with previous studies by Louis, Peterkin & Fitt [(1971) Biochem. J. 121, 635-641], thus confirming the validity of gel filtration in 2.5 M-KCl/1 M-NaCl as a method for determining the approximate molecular weights of extremehalophile proteins.     

Predicted secondary structures of four penicillin beta-lactamases and a comparison with two lysozymes.

We have predicted the secondary structures of four beta-lactamases (Bacillus cereus, Bacillus licheniformis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli R-TEM) by the statistical method of Chou & Fasman as well as by the information theory method of Garnier et al. The secondary structures of all four beta-lactamases are of the alpha/beta type (Levitt & Chothia's nomenclature), with helices at N- and C-termini. There are about eight short regions each of alpha-helical (30--50%) and beta-strand (10--20%) structure separated by about 20 reverse turns. The conformation of the Gram-positive and Gram-negative beta-lactamases are generally similar although a few differences are predicted between the S.aureus and E.coli structures. Surprisingly, the two bacilli structures differ significantly in three short regions. In all four enzymes the region near the catalytically-implicated tyrosine has similar secondary structure. The secondary structure of hen egg white lysozyme, a penicillin-binding enzyme, as well as T4 phage lysozyme, has similarities to the N-terminal half of the penicillin-destroying beta-lactamases.     

The serine hydroxymethyltransferase of Plasmodium lophurae.

Plasmodium lophurae serine hydroxymethyltransferase (EC 2.1.2.1) was partially purified and characterized by (NH4)2SO4 fractionation and chromatography on Sephadex G-100. The enzyme, precipitated by 3.0.3.3 M (NH4)2SO4, had a molecular weight of 68,300 as estimated by exclusion chromatography on G-100. The pH optimum of the enzyme was 6.8-7.6 in sodium phosphate-citrate buffer. Citrate stabilized the enzyme during storage in phosphate buffer at 4 C. The Km was 4.3 X 10(-3) M for L-serine and 2.5 X 10(-4) M for tetrahydrofolate.     

Rate constants and equilibrium constants for binding of the gelsolin-actin complex to the barbed ends of actin filaments in the presence and absence of calcium

The equilibrium constant for binding of the gelsolin-actin complex to the barbed ends of actin filaments was measured by the depolymerizing effect of the gelsolin-actin complex on actin filaments. When the gelsolin-actin complex blocks monomer consumption at the lengthening barbed ends of treadmilling actin filaments, monomers continue to be produced at the shortening pointed ends until a new steady state is reached in which monomer production at the pointed ends is balanced by monomer consumption at the uncapped barbed ends. By using this effect the equilibrium constant for binding was determined to be about 1.5 X 10(10) M-1 in excess EGTA over total calcium (experimental conditions: 1 mM MgCl2, 100 mM KCl, pH 7.5, 37 degrees C). In the presence of Ca2+ the equilibrium constant was found to be in the range of or above 10(11) M-1. The rate constant of binding of the gelsolin-actin complex to the barbed ends was measured by inhibition of elongation of actin filaments. Nucleation of new filaments by the gelsolin-actin complex towards the pointed ends was prevented by keeping the monomer concentration below the critical monomer concentration of the pointed ends where the barbed ends of treadmilling actin filaments elongate and the pointed ends shorten. The gelsolin-actin complex was found to bind fourfold faster to the barbed ends in the presence of Ca2+ (10 X 10(6) M-1 s-1) than in excess EGTA (2.5 X 10(6) M-1 s-1). Dissociation of the gelsolin-actin complex from the barbed ends can be calculated to be rather slow. In excess EGTA the rate constant of dissociation is about 1.7 X 10(-4) s-1. In the presence of Ca2+ this dissociation rate constant is in the range of or below 10(-4) s-1.     

Deoxyribonucleic acid-dependent ribonucleic acid polymerase activity in rat liver after protein restriction.

Rats were fed for 6 days on a diet containing either 3 or 20% high-quality protein. Nuclei were isolated from liver and DNA-dependent RNA polymerases (EC 2.7.7.6) extracted with 1 M-(NH4)2SO4. The proteins were then precipitated with 3.5 M-(NH4)2SO4 and after dialysis applied to a DEAE-Sephadex column. The column was developed with a gradient of (NH4)2SO4. Polymerase I separated well from alpha-amanitin-sensitive polymerase II. The enzyme activities were compared between the two dietary groups. Rats that had received 3% protein showed a lower polymerase I activity per g wet wt. of liver, per mg of DNA and per mg of protein. Polymerase II was lower in activity per g wet wt. of liver and per mg of DNA, but was higher per mg of protein. Polyacrylamide-gel electrophoretograms showed a higher proportion of contaminating proteins in polymerase II fractions isolated from 20%-protein-fed rats. The data explain the lower activity obtained per mg of protein in these rats. It is concluded that a decrease in dietary protein content from 20 to 3% induces a fall in content and specific activity of RNA polymerase I and II in liver.     

Inhibition of beta-lactamases by monocyclic acyl phosph(on)ates

The cyclic acyl phosph(on)ates, 1-hydroxy-5-phenyl-2,6-dioxaphosphorinone(3)-1-oxide, its 4-phenyl isomer, and the phosphonate (2-oxo) analogue of the latter inhibited typical class A (TEM-2) and class C (Enterobacter cloacae P99) beta-lactamases in a time-dependent fashion. No enzyme-catalyzed turnover was detected in any case. The interactions occurring were interpreted in terms of the reaction scheme E + I left arrow over right arrow EI left arrow over right arrow EI', where EI is a reversibly formed noncovalent complex, and EI' is a covalent complex. Reactions of the cyclic phosphates with the P99 beta-lactamase were effectively irreversible, while that of the 4-phenyl cyclic phosphate with the TEM beta-lactamase was slowly reversible. The 4-phenyl cyclic phosphate was generally the most effective inhibitor, both kinetically and thermodynamically, with second-order rate constants of inactivation of both enzymes around 10(4) s(-1) M(-1). This compound also bound noncovalently to both enzymes, with dissociation constants of 25 microM from the P99 enzyme and 100 microM from the TEM. It is unusual to find an inhibitor equally effective against the TEM and P99 enzymes; the beta-lactamase inhibitors currently employed in medical practice (e.g., clavulanic acid) are significantly more effective against class A enzymes. The results of lysinoalanine analysis after hydroxide treatment of the inhibited enzymes and of a (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of one such complex were interpreted as favoring a mechanism of inactivation by enzyme acylation rather than phosphylation. Molecular modeling of the enzyme complexes of the 4-phenyl phosphate revealed bound conformations where recyclization and thus reactivation of the enzyme would be difficult. The compounds studied were turned over slowly or not at all by acetylcholinesterase and phosphodiesterase I.     

Purification and properties of urease from bovine rumen.

Urease (urea amidohydrolase, EC 3.5.1.5) was extracted from the mixed rumen bacterial fraction of bovine rumen contents and purified 60-fold by (NH4)2SO4 precipitation, calcium phosphate-gel adsorption and chromatography on hydroxyapatite. The purified enzyme had maximum activity at pH 8.0. The molecular weight was estimated to be 120000-130000. The Km for urea was 8.3 X 10(-4) M+/-1.7 X 10(-4) M. The maximum velocity was 3.2+/-0.25 mmol of urea hydrolysed/h per mg of protein. The enzyme was stabilized by 50 mM-dithiothreitol. The enzyme was not inhibited by high concentrations of EDTA or phosphate but was inhibited by Mn2+, Mg2+, Ba2+, Hg2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Ni2+ and Co2+. p-Chloromercuribenzenesulfphonate and N-ethylmaleimide inhibited the enzyme almost completely at 0.1 mM. Hydroxyurea and acetohydroxamate reversibly inhibited the enzyme. Polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis showed that the mixed rumen bacteria produce ureases which have identical molecular weights and electrophoretic mobility. No multiple forms of urease were detected.     

Purification and characterization of 3-dehydroshikimate dehydratase, an enzyme in the inducible quinic acid catabolic pathway of Neurospora crassa.

3-Dehydroshikimate dehydratase catalyzes the third reaction in the inducible quinic acid catabolic pathway of Neurospora crassa and is encoded in the qa-4 gene of the qa gene cluster. As part of continuing genetic and biochemical studies concerning the organization and regulation of this gene cluster, 3-dehydroshikimate dehydratase has been purified and characterized biochemically. The enzyme was purified 1650-fold using the following techniques: 1) (NH4)2SO4 fractionation; 2) ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose; 3) gel filtration on Sephadex G-100; 4) ion exchange chromatography on Cellex QAE (quaternary aminoethyl); and 5) hydroxylapatite chromatography. 3-Dehydroshikimate dehydratase is a monomer with a molecular weight of about 37,000 and a sedimentation coefficient of 3.27 S. It has a Km value of 5.9 X 10(-4) and an average isoelectric point of 4.92. The purified enzyme is extremely sensitive to thermal denaturation but can be significantly stabilized by Mg2+ ions. The purified enzyme also exhibits maximal catalytic activity only when assayed in the presence of certain divalent cations, e.g. magnesium. The NH2-terminal residue of 3-dehydroshikimate dehydratase is proline, and its alpha-amino group is unblocked.     

Effect of dextran and ammonium sulphate on the reaction catalysed by a glucosyltransferase complex from Streptococcus mutans

The highly aggregated proteins precipitated by (NH4)2SO4 from the culture fluid of three strains of Streptococcus mutans gradually released less aggregated glucosyltransferase activities - dextransucrase and mutansucrase - which catalysed the synthesis of water-soluble and insoluble glucans from sucrose. Mutansucrase was eluted from a column of Sepharose 6B before dextransucrase. This activity was lost during subsequent dialysis and gel filtration, but there was a corresponding increase in dextransucrase activity which catalysed the formation of soluble glucan when incubated with sucrose alone, and insoluble glucan when incubated with sucrose and 1.55 M-(NH4)2SO4. Relative rates of synthesis of soluble and insoluble glucan in the presence of 1.55 M-(MH4)2SO4 were dependent upon the enzyme concentration: high concentrations favoured insoluble glucan synthesis. Insoluble glucans synthesized by mutansucrase or by dextransucrase in the presence of 1.55 M-(NH4)2SO4 were more sensitive to hydrolysis by mutanase than by dextranse, but soluble glucans were more extensively hydrolysed by dextranase than by mutanase. Partially purified dextransucrase sedimented through glycerol density gradients as a single symmetrical peak with an apparent molecular weight in the range 100000 to 110000. In the presence of 1.55 M-(NH4)2SO4, part of the activity sedimented rapidly as a high molecular weight aggregate. The results strongly suggest that soluble and insoluble glucans are synthesized by interconvertible forms of the same glucosyltransferase. The aggregated form, mutansucrase, preferentially catalyses (1 leads to 3)-alpha bond formation but dissociates during gel filtration to the dextransucrase form which catalyses (1 leads to 6)-alpha bond formation.     

Nitrogenase of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Kinetic studies on the Fe protein involving reduction by sodium dithionite, the binding of MgADP and a conformation change that alters the reactivity of the 4Fe-4S centre.

The kinetics of reduction of indigocarmine-dye-oxidized Fe protein of nitrogenase from Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp2ox) by sodium dithionite in the presence and absence of MgADP were studied by stopped-flow spectrophotometry at 23 degrees C and at pH 7.4. Highly co-operative binding of 2MgADP (composite K greater than 4 X 10(10) M-2) to Kp2ox induced a rapid conformation change which caused the redox-active 4Fe-4S centre to be reduced by SO2-.(formed by the predissociation of dithionite ion) with k = 3 X 10(6) M-1.s-1. This rate constant is at least 30 times lower than that for the reduction of free Kp2ox (k greater than 10(8) M-1.s-1). Two mechanisms have been considered and limits obtained for the rate constants for MgADP binding/dissociation and a protein conformation change. Both mechanisms give rate constants (e.g. MgADP binding 3 X 10(5) less than k less than 3 X 10(6) M-1.s-1 and protein conformation change 6 X 10(2) less than k less than 6 X 10(3) s-1) that are similar to those reported for creatine kinase (EC 2.7.3.2). The kinetics also show that in the catalytic cycle of nitrogenase with sodium dithionite as reductant replacement of 2MgADP by 2MgATP occurs on reduced and not oxidized Kp2. Although the Kp2ox was reduced stoichiometrically by SO2-. and bound two equivalents of MgADP with complete conversion into the less-reactive conformation, it was only 45% active with respect to its ability to effect MgATP-dependent electron transfer to the MoFe protein.     

Polyadenylate polymerase from cytoplasm and nuclei of N.I.H.-Swiss mouse embryos.

Poly (A) polymerase activity from cytoplasm and nuclei of 12-16-day-old mouse embryos has been partially purified by (NH4)2SO4 fractionation, DEAE-cellulose, phosphocellulose and tRNA-Sepharose affinity chromatography, and their properties have been compared. The nuclear and cytoplasmic enzymes exhibit similar chromatographic elution profiles, and similar biochemical and physical properties. Poly(A) polymerase has an absolute requirement for a divalent cation, ATP and an oligo- or polyribonucleotide primer. With tRNA, the divalent salt concentrations for optimum enzyme activity are 1 mM MnCl2 or 10 mM MgCl2. The enzyme activity with MnCl2 is 10-15-fold higher than that with MgCl2. The molecular weight of the native enzyme is about 65 000 and its sedimentation coefficient is around 4.5 S. The average chain length synthesized by the enzyme is between 10 and 13 nucleotides. The inhibitors of RNA polymerase do not affect poly (A) polymerase activity; however, some synthetic rifamycin SV derivatives are potent inhibitors of this enzyme.     

Yeast alpha-isopropylmalate isomerase. Factors affecting stability and enzyme activity.

Yeast alpha-isopropylmalate isomerase was found to be markedly stabilized by high concentrations of glycerol and (NH4)2SO4. Such conditions of high ionic strength inhibited the enzyme, stabilized the enzyme to heat, and affected kinetic parameters. The isomerase was found to exhibit ionic strength-dependent hysteresis when enzyme, totally but reversibly inhibited by storage under conditions of high ionic strength of (NH4)2SO4, was transferred to a lower concentration of (NH4)2SO4. Alpha-Isopropylmalate isomerase was found to be sensitive to KCN and certain other chelators. The inactivation by KCN was prevented by high concentrations of (NH4)2SO4. These observations implicated a metal involvement but the nature of the metal was not revealed. The metal involvement and some of the other properties of alpha-isopropylmalate isomerase reveal a similarity to aconitase. The similarities in properties between the isomerase and aconitase are summarized. Studies of yeast alpha-isopropylmalate isomerase indicated that it is a single polypeptide of about Mr = 90,000.     

Production of anti-human thyroglobulin and anti-thyroid hormone antibodies in rabbits immunized with human thyroglobulin

Two rabbits (TG-1, TG-2) were immunized with human thyroglobulin (HTg) and bled serially. Antisera were obtained at different times after the first immunization and kept separately and studied. In both rabbits production of anti-HTg, and anti-thyroid hormone antibodies such as anti-thyroxine (T4) and anti-triiodothyronine (T3) antibodies was observed. Binding parameters of anti-HTg antibodies with HTg, T4, and T3 were calculated in two selected antisera (70-day and 249-day). The Scatchard's plots of these antibodies were all curve-linear and were analyzed in two components: one, higher binding constant (Ka1) and smaller binding capacity (Cap1) and the other, lower binding constant (Ka2) and larger binding capacity (Cap2). Ka1 values of anti-HTg, anti-T4, and anti-T3 antibodies in sera from TG-1 obtained from 70-day and 249-day bleeding were 1.1 X 10(10) M-1, 6.0 X 10(9) M-1. 7.9 X 10(8) M-1 and 1.7 X 10(10) M-1, 6.5 X 10(9) M-1, 1.0 X 10(9) M-1, respectively. Those from TG-2 were 1.7 X 10(10) M-1, 1.8 X 10(9) M-1, 6.4 X 10(8) M-1 and 2.0 X 10(10) M-1, 3.1 X 10(9) M-1, 1.6 X 10(9) M-1, respectively. The significance of the production of anti-HTg and anti-thyroid hormone antibodies in rabbits immunized with HTg in relation to the antigenic structure of HTg molecule was discussed.     

A comparison of methods for extracting ribonucleic acid polymerases from rat liver nuclei.

Nuclei were prepared from rat liver after homogenization of the tissue in hyperosmotic sucrose and RNA polymerases (EC 2.7.7.6) extracted by two methods applied sequentially. Optimal conditions for washing loosely bound enzymes out of nuclei were determined first, and involved short (10 min) incubations at 0 degrees C in the presence of 5 mM-Mg2+ and 60 mM-(NH4)2SO4. Subsequent sonication of the residual nuclear pellet after resuspension and lysis at high ionic strength resulted in further release of RNA polymerases. The primary wash yielded about 2 x 10(4) molecules of RNA polymerases I and III (altogether) and 1 x 10(4) molecules of form-II enzymes per original nucleus, whereas subsequent sonication released 2 x 10(4)-2.5 x 10(4) form-I and -III enzyme molecules (altogether) and a further 7 x 10(3)-8 x 10(3) form-II enzyme molecules, as measured by end-labelling of nascent RNA. RNA polymerase II was partially purified from both types of extracts and shown to initiate very poorly on high-molecular-weight homologous DNA irrespective of the source of the enzyme.     

The purification and properties of a penicillinase whose synthesis is mediated by an R-factor in Escherichia coli

1. The penicillinase (beta-lactamase) from Escherichia coli strain TEM has been purified and its activity against a range of penicillin and cephalosporin derivatives measured. 2. The enzyme shows little resemblance to penicillinases from Bacillus cereus, Bacillus licheniformis and Staphylococcus aureus. 3. The molecular weight of the enzyme is 16700+/-5%, which is about half the value obtained for other penicillinases. 4. The enzyme is most similar in properties to a crude preparation of a penicillinase from Klebsiella (Aerobacter) aerogenes, but clearly different from crude enzyme preparations from other strains of E. coli. 5. Since penicillinase synthesis in E. coli strain TEM is mediated by an R-factor known to infect many other species of Enterobacteriaceae, the appearance of similar enzymes in other Gramnegative species is not surprising.     

Steroid-transforming enzymes from microorganisms. X. Enrichment of a 4-en-3-oxosteroid-5 alpha-reductase from Mycobacterium smegmatis as well as separation and enrichment of the apoenzyme by means of affinity chromatography

The 4-en-3-oxosteroid-5 alpha-reductase from Mycobacterium smegmatis was bound biospecifically on the affinant containing an immobilized testosterone ligand. The enzyme obtained by elution with ethylene glycol and urea in a 32 fold purity has a S. A. of 8.73 X 10(-3) microM androstenedione min-1 mg-1. The coenzyme (FAD) could be separated from the immobilized enzyme substrate complex on the affinity matrix, in the presence of (NH4)2SO4 at pH 3.0. After elution of the apoenzyme 97% of the initial enzyme activity was obtained by incubation with FAD. The reactivated enzyme results in a 40-fold enrichment.     

Enzymatic attack on side chains of synthetic polymers. Chymotrypsin-catalyzed hydrolysis of specific substrate groups attached to acrylamide or acrylic acid co-polymers.

Three vinyl monomers, M-1, M-3, and M-5, in which L-phenylalanine p-nitroanilide was acylated with CH2==CHCONH(CH2)nCO--(n = 1, 3, 5) were synthesized. They were co-polymerized with a large excess of acrylamide (co-polymers PAm-1, PAm-3, and PAm-5) and with a large excess of acrylic acid (co-polymers PAc=1, PAc-3, and PCc-5). In addition, M-5 was co-polymerized with acrylamide containing 2.8 mol % of the hydrophobic monomer N-acrylyl-1-naphthylamine (co-polymer PAm-5N). The rates of the chymotrypsin-catalyzed hydrolysis of the nitroanilide groups of M-5 and the various co-polymers were determined over a range of pH. For some of the systems data were also obtained over a range of substrate concentrations to derive values for Vmax and Km. Results obtained with PAm-5 were found to be independent of the chain length of the co-polymer. At pH 7, 25 degrees and with 2.7 X 10(-6) M enzyme, Vmax values for M-5, PAm-k, PAm-5N, and PAc-5 were 5.5, 5.5, 10, and 3.6 X 10(-8) M/S, while Km values were 8.5, 16.5, 10, and 2.2 X 10(-5),respectively, With PAc-5, the pH activity profile was shifted to higher acidities as compared to the profiles obtained with M-5 and PAm-5. The susceptibility of the co-polymers to chymotrypsin attack decreases sharply with a decreasing spacing of the L-phenylalanine p-nitroanilide residue from the backbone of the polymer chains.