Hydrophobic interactions of the apo and holo forms of human cobalamin binding proteins

The interactions of transcobalamin II (TC II), intrinsic factor (IF) and R-type binding protein of cobalamin (Cb1, vitamin B₁₂) with the hydrophobic chromatography matrix Phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B were investigated. IF-Cb1 and R-Cb1 complexes were not adsorbed on Phenyl-Sepharose at room temperature or at 4°C with buffer containing 50 mM sodium phosphate, pH 7.4 containing 150 mM sodium chloride. The TC II-Cb1 complex adsorbed and could be eluted with buffer containing 50% $\text{v}\text{v}$ glycerol. IF without Cb1 adsorbed and was eluted with 50% glycerol at room temperature and 4°C. At room temperature, R binder without Cb1 eluted with buffer, but later than the R-Cb1 complex. At 4°C, R binder completely adsorbed to the matrix. TC II-without Cb1 bound to the matrix at 4°C and room temperature and could not be eluted with glycerol. These results suggest that Cb1 binding proteins can be separated and identified based on their hydrophobic properties. In addition, upon binding Cb1, TC II, IF and R-type binders undergo a conformational change such that the protein-Cb1 complex shows reduced hydrophobicity.     

Characterization of (Mg,Ca)-ATPase activity in rat pancreatic plasma membranes.

1. Pancreatic plasma membranes containing a high adenylate cyclase activity and a low contamination by cytochrome c oxidase were isolated from the rat by sucrose density centrifugation. The preparation contained an (Mg,Ca)-ATPase of high activity with the following characteristics. 2. The ATPase activity was shown to have two apparent Km values for Mg-ATP (0.24 +/- 0.09 mM and 1.15 +/- 0.21 mM) and two apparent Km values for Ca-ATP (0.14 +/- 0.09 mM and 0.68 +/- 0.10 mM). Mg-GTP and Ca-GTP were also hydrolysed by the preparation. The phase transition temperature was 19.3 +/- 1.0 degrees C for the Mg-ATPase and 22.6 +/- 1.1 degrees C for the Ca-ATPase activities. 3. Three lines of evidence suggest that Mg-ATP and Ca-ATP were substrates for the same enzyme: Mg-dependent and Ca-dependent activities were not additive; the two activities showed the same pH optimum at 8.0; and the nonionic detergents Triton X-100, Triton X-305, Triton N-101, Lubrol P 12 A, and digitonin, produced a parallel solubilization of the two activities. 4. Enzyme activities were insensitive to potassium, sodium, ouabain, pancreozymin, carbamoyl-choline, secretin, concanavalin A, wheat germ agglutinin, and soybean lectin.     

Purification and properties of 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate synthetase from Lactobacillus casei

5,10-Methenyltetrahydrofolate synthetase (EC 6.3.3.2), which catalyzes the ATP- and Mg2+ -dependent isomerization of 5-formyl- to 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate, has been purified 10,000-fold from Lactobacillus casei using sequential affinity chromatography on immobilized 5-formyltetrahydrofolate and ATP. The enzyme is homogeneous when examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, is monomeric with a molecular mass of 23,000 Da, and contains a high proportion of hydrophobic amino acids and a single cysteine residue. At 30 degrees C, the turnover number is 88 min-1, and the Km values at pH 6 for 5-formyltetrahydrofolate and Mg-ATP are 0.6 and 1.0 microM, respectively. The enzyme is specific for (6S)-5-formyltetrahydrofolate, but ATP can be replaced by other nucleoside 5'-triphosphates with varying efficiency. The purified enzyme is markedly stabilized by the non-ionic detergent, Tween 20.     

Mitochondrial adenosine triphosphatase from human placenta--purification and catalytic properties

1. The purification of ATPase (EC 3.6.1.3) from human placental mitochondria is described. The yield based on mitochondrial enzyme activity was about 70% and the purification was 380-fold. 2. The rate of Mg-ATP hydrolysis was 85 mumole per min per mg of protein under optimum conditions. 3. Nucleoside triphosphates were hydrolyzed by the purified enzyme at decreasing rates in the following order: GTP greater than ITP greater than ATP greater than epsilon-ATP greater than UTP greater than CTP in Tris-HCl buffer (pH 8.0), and in the order: ATP greater than GTP greater than or equal to ITP greater than epsilon-ATP greater than UTP greater than CTP in Tris-bicarbonate buffer at pH 8.0. 4. The values of kinetic parameters are reported. The ATPase reaction deviated from typical Michaelis-Menten kinetics in Tris-HCl buffer but not in Tris-bicarbonate. Eadie-Hofstee plots for Mg-ATP hydrolysis were biphasic in Tris-HCl (Km = 0.2 mM, 0.09 mM) and monophastic in Tris-becarbonate medium (Km = 0.16 mM). 5. In the presence of Mg-ITP or Mg-GTP as substrates no curvature of the reciprocal plots was observed. 6. The results presented reflect the fact that multiple conformations of the enzyme molecule do exist and are probably involved in its regulatory functions. 7. The existence of two kinetically distinct classes of catalytic sites and of an anion-binding site on the placental ATPase is proposed.     

The phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase of Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) cruzi epimastigotes: molecular, kinetic, and regulatory properties

The phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (ATP:oxaloacetate carboxy-lyase (transphosphorylating), EC 4.1.1.49) of the epimastigote form of Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) cruzi has been purified to homogeneity. The enzyme is composed of two apparently identical 42,000 +/- 500 subunits, is highly specific for adenine nucleotides, and has a strict requirement of Mn2+ ions for activity; the activation of the enzyme by ionic Mn2+ reveals that one Mn2+ ion required for each 42,000 subunit. Hyperbolic kinetics are observed for all substrates in the carboxylation reaction with Km (phosphoenolpyruvate) of 0.36 +/- 0.08 mM, Km (HCO-3) of 3.7 +/- 0.2 mM, and Km (Mg-ADP) of 39 +/- 1 microM. In the decarboxylation reaction the kinetics with respect to oxalacetic acid are also hyperbolic with a Km of 27 +/- 3 microM, but towards Mg-ATP there is a biphasic response: hyperbolic at low (less than 250 microM) concentrations with a Km of 39 +/- 1 microM, but at higher concentrations the nucleotide produces a strong inhibition of the enzyme activity. This inhibition is also observed with Mg-GTP and Mg-ITP which are not substrates of the reaction. The results are consistent with an important regulatory function of the enzyme in the amino-acid catabolism of T. cruzi.     

Purification and Characterization of Triokinase from Porcine Kidney

Abstract

In order to be able to use triokinase for the enzymatic assay of tissue glyceraldehyde, we purified the enzyme to homogeneity from porcine kidney and characterized its biochemical properties. The purification was performed by polyethylene glycol fractionation, anion exchange chromatography, hydroxyapatite chromatography, hydrophobic chromatography, and gel filtration. The enzyme was purified 937-fold from the crude extract with an overall yield of 28 %. It had a molecular weight of 122,000 and was a dimer composed of identical subunits. The optimal pH and optimal temperature were 7.0 and 60 °C, respectively. This enzyme was stable when incubated at pH 7.0 at 40 °C for 1 h in the presence of 0.1 mg/ml bovine serum albumin. No loss of activity occurred for at least 1 month when the enzyme was stored at 4 °C in the presence of 1 mM dithiothreitol and 15 mM NaN₃ under N₂. Only three compounds, i.e., D-glyceraldehyde, dihydroxyacetone, and glycolaldehyde, acted as the substrate of the enzyme, having Km's of 11, <5, and 260 μM, respectively. The Km for ATP-Mg²⁺ was 68 μM. These results indicate that porcine kidney triokinase has properties advantageous for the glyceraldehyde assay using glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase as a coupling enzyme.     

Partial Purification and Characterization of UDP-Glucose Pyrophosphorylase from Immature Grains of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Uridine diphosphate glucose pyrophosphorylase (UDP-Glc PPase, EC2.7.7.9) was purified 65 fold from immature grains of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv, WH-147) by ammonium sulphate fractionation, DEAE-cellulose anion exchange chromatography and Sephadex G-100 permeation chromatography. The partially purified enzyme, having molecular weight of 72 kD, exhibited broad pH optimum between 8 and 9 and was stable at 4°C for 15 days. At pH 8.5, the enzyme followed typical hyperbolic kinetics with respect to UDP-glucose and inorganic pyrophosphate (Km 0.22 mM and 0.66 mM respectively). The enzyme showed absolute requirement for Mg²⁺ and did not appear to require sulfhydryl groups for its activity. Initial velocity and product inhibition studies indicated sequential addition of substrates and sequential release of products.     

Characterization of the helicase activity of the Escherichia coli RecBCD enzyme using a novel helicase assay

We describe an assay to measure the extent of enzymatic unwinding of DNA by a DNA helicase. This assay takes advantage of the quenching of the intrinsic protein fluorescence of Escherichia coli SSB protein upon binding to ssDNA and is used to characterize the DNA unwinding activity of recBCD enzyme. Unwinding in this assay is dependent on the presence of recBCD enzyme and linear dsDNA, is consistent with the known properties of recBCD enzyme, and closely parallels other methods for measuring recBCD enzyme helicase activity. The effects of varying temperature, substrate concentrations, enzyme concentration, and mono- and divalent salt concentrations on the helicase activity of recBCD enzyme were characterized. The apparent Km values for recBCD enzyme helicase activity on linear M13 dsDNA molecules at 25 degrees C are 0.6 nM dsDNA molecules and 130 microM ATP, respectively. The apparent turnover number for unwinding is approximately 15 microM base pairs s-1 (microM recBCD enzyme)-1. When this rate is corrected for the observed stoichiometry of recBCD enzyme binding to dsDNA, kcat for helicase activity corresponds to an unwinding rate of approximately 250 base pairs of DNA s-1 (functional recBCD complex)-1 at 25 degrees C. At 37 degrees C, the apparent Km value for dsDNA molecules was the same as that at 25 degrees C, but the apparent turnover number became 56 microM base pairs s-1 (microM recBCD enzyme)-1 [or 930 base pairs s-1 (functional recBCD complex)-1 when corrected for observed stoichiometry]. With increasing NaCl concentration, kcat peaks at 100 mM, and the apparent Km value for dsDNA increases by 3-fold at 200 mM NaCl. In the presence of 5 mM calcium acetate, the apparent Km value is increased by 3-fold, and kcat decreased by 20-30%. We have also shown that recBCD enzyme molecules are able to catalytically unwind additional dsDNA substrates subsequent to initiation, unwinding, and dissociation from a previous dsDNA molecule.     

Chitin synthetase from the yeast and mycelial phases of Blastomyces dermatitidis

Chitin synthetase (E.C.2.4.1.16) from mixed membrane fractions of the yeast and mycelial phases of Blastomyces dermatitidis were compared. The behavior of the enzyme from both phases was very similar: N-acetylglucosamine was stimulatory (Km 8.5 mM for yeast and 3.9 mM for mycelium); substrate Michaelis-Menten kinetics were sigmoidal; substrate Km of enzyme from yeast decreased from 3.0 mM at low N-acetylglucosamine (5 mM) levels to 1.4 mM at high (100 mM) levels; substrate Km of enzyme from mycelium was essentially unchanged at 1.4 mM; temperature optimum was 28 ° C; pH optimum was 7–7.5; Mg⁺² optimum was 5–10 mM.The greatest difference was that enzyme from yeast was extracted in a mostly latent form that required trypsin treatment for maximal in vitro activity while enzyme from mycelium was extracted in an active form which was rapidly deactivated by trypsin treatment.     

Extracellular α Galactosidase (E.C. 3.2.1.22) from Aspergillus Ficuum NRRL 3135 Purification and Characterization

Abstract

Extracellular α-galactosidase, a glycoprotein from the extracellular culture fluid of Aspergillus ficuum grown on glucose and raffinose in a batch culture system, was purified to homogeneity in five steps by inn exchange and hydrophobic Interaction chromatography. The molecular mass of the enzyme was 70.8 Kd by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and 74.1 Kd by gel permeation HPLC. On the basis of a molecular mass of 70.7 Kd, the molar extinction coefficient of the enzyme at 279 nm was estimated to be 6.1 × 10⁴ M^?1 cm^?1. The purified enzyme was remarkably stable at 0°C. It had a broad temperature optimum and maximum catalytic activity was at 60°C. It retained 33% of its activity after 10 min. at 65°C. It had a pH optimum of 6.0. It retained 62% of its activity after 12 hours at pH 2.3. The K_ms for p-nitrophenyl-α-D-galactopyranoside, o-nitrophenyl-α-D-galactopyranoside and m-nitrophenyl-α-D-galactopyranoside are: 1462, 839 and 718 μ. The enzyme was competitively inhibited by mercury (19.8 μ), silver (21.5μM), copper (0.48 mM), zinc (0.11 mM), galactose (64.0 mM) and fructose (60.3 mM). It was inhibited non-competitively by glucose (83.2 mM) and uncompetitively by mannose (6.7 mM).     

Purification and some properties of 1-aspartamido-beta-N-acetylglucosamine amidohydrolase from human liver.

Human liver 1-aspartamido-beta-N-acetylglucosamine amidohydrolase (aspartylglucosylaminase, EC 3.5.1.26) was purified 17 500-fold to apparent homogeneity as judged from polyacrylamide-gel disc electrophoresis. A pH optimum of 7.7-9.0 was found. The Km value was pH- and temperature-dependent. At 37 degrees C and pH 7.7, Km was 0.16 mM and it increased to 0.29 at pH 6.0 and 0.23 at pH 9.0. At 25 degrees C and pH 7.7, a Km value of 0.99 mM was obtained. When the substrate concentration was varied, apparent Michaelis-Menten kinetics were obtained. p-Hydroxymercuribenzoate, glutathione or cysteine had no effect on the enzyme activity; 5 mM-N-acetylcysteine inhibited about 47% of the total enzyme activity. Apart from Cu2+, other bivalent ions were virtually ineffective at 1 mM. The kinetic study differentiates this enzyme from aspartylglucosylaminase from other sources.     

Mechanistic investigation on the temperature dependence and inhibition of corn root plasma membrane ATPase

The kinetics of corn root plasma membrane-catalyzed Mg-ATP hydrolysis may be satisfactorily described by a simple Michaelis-Menten scheme. It was found that the Km of the process was relatively insensitive to changes in temperature. This property allowed us to conveniently estimate the activation energy of the enzyme turnover process as approximately 14 kcal mol-1 in the temperature range of 10 to 45 degrees C. The enzyme activity was inhibited by the presence of diethystilbestrol (DES), miconazole, vanadate, and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD). The inhibition caused by DES and miconazole was strictly uncompetitive and inhibition by vanadate was noncompetitive. The inhibition by DCCD showed a substrate concentration dependence, i.e., competitive at high and uncompetitive at low concentrations of Mg-ATP. The 1/V vs [I] plots suggested that there were different but unique binding sites for DES, vanadate, and miconazole. However, the modification of the plasma membrane by DCCD exhibited interaction with multiple sites. Unlike yeast plasma membrane ATPase, the enzyme of corn root cells was not affected by the treatment with N-ethylmaleimide. Although the enzyme activity was regulated by ADP, a product of the reaction, the presence of inorganic phosphate showed no inhibition to the hydrolysis of Mg-ATP.     

The substrate specificity, kinetics, and mechanism of glycerate-3-kinase from spinach leaves

Glycerate-3-kinase (EC 2.7.1.31) from spinach leaves shows absolute specificity for D-glycerate as phosphate acceptor, yielding 3-phosphoglycerate as a product. ATP complexed with either Mg2+ or Mn2+ is the preferred phosphate donor. The enzyme has Km (D-glycerate) = 0.25 mM, Km (Mg-ATP) = 0.21 mM, Vmax = 300 mumol min-1 mg protein-1, and a turnover number = 12,000 X min-1. The equilibrium constant for the reaction is approximately 300 at pH 7.8. Pyrophosphate, 3-phosphoglycerate and ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate are the strongest inhibitors among the phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated metabolites tested; however, their regulatory role in vivo is questioned. Substrate kinetics, as well as product and analog inhibition data, are consistent with a sequential random mechanism. The distinct characteristic of the glycerate kinase-catalyzed reaction is the formation of a dead-end complex between the enzyme, D-glycerate, and 3-phosphoglycerate.     

PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF AN ALKALINE CELLULASE PRODUCED BY Bacillus subtilis (AS3)

An extracellular alkaline carboxymethycellulase (CMCase) from Bacillus subtilis was purified by salt precipitation followed by anion-exchange chromatography using DEAE-Sepharose. The cell-free supernatant containing crude enzyme had a CMCase activity of 0.34 U/mg. The purified enzyme gave a specific activity of 3.33 U/mg, with 10-fold purification and an overall activity yield of 5.6%. The purified enzyme displayed a protein band on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) with an apparent molecular size of 30 kDa, which was also confirmed by zymogram analysis. The enzyme displayed multisubstrate specificity, showing significantly higher activity with lichenan and β-glucan as compared to carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), laminarin, hydroxyethylcellulose, and steam-exploded bagasse, and negligible activity with crystalline substrate such as Avicel and filter paper. It was optimally active at pH 9.2 and temperature 45°C. The enzyme was stable in the pH range 6–10 and retained 70% activity at pH 12. Thermal stability analysis revealed that the enzyme was stable in temperature range of 20°C to 45°C and retained more than 50% activity at 60°C for 30 min. The enzyme had a Km of 0.13 mg/ml and Vmax of 3.38 U/mg using CMC as substrate.     

Conformational changes in soluble mitochondrial ATPase by the spin probe method]

Modification of soluble mitochondrial ATPase (factor F1) by spin-labelled iodoacetamide and spin-labelled methyleneketone does not cause and change in the catalytic properties of the enzyme. The temperature dependence of tau corr. of labels bound to factor F1 testifies to conformational changes in the enzyme at temperatures of 18--20 degrees C and 34--37 degrees C. At these temperature intervals, breaks are observed in the temperature dependence of the ATPase reaction rate in the Arrenius plot. The results obtained indicate that the thermally induced conformational changes in factor F1 affect large areas of the protein molecule. The interaction of factor F1 with the hydrophobic spin probes, namely fatty acid derivatives, was studied. It was shown that the interaction of foctor F1 with Mg2+, Mg-ATP, Mg-ADP and ADP, results in an increase in the ability of the enzyme to adsorb spin probes.     

Sugar uptake into brush border vesicles from dog kidney. II. Kinetics

The kinetics of D-glucose transport over the concentration range 0.07--20 mM have been investigated in a vesiculated membrane preparation from dog kidney cortex. 1. A sodium-dependent and a sodium-independent component of D-glucose uptake are observed. The sodium-dependent component is phlorizin sensitive (KI approximately 0.6 micron) and electrogenic. 2. The sodium-dependent component of D-glucose uptake yields non-linear Eadie-Hofstee plots consistent with the presence of high (GH) and low (GL) affinity sites (KH approximately 0.2 mM, KL approximately 4.5 mM, VL/VH approximately 7 at pH 7.4, 25 degrees C, 100 mM NaC1 gradient). Alternative explanations are cooperative effects of non-Michaelis-Menten kinetics. 3. The initial uptake of D-glucose increases as the intravesicular membrane potential become more negative but the numerical values of KH and KL show little, if any, change. 4. alpha-Methyl-D-glucoside transport is also sodium dependent and phlorizin sensitive (KI approximately 1.9 micron). 5. In contrast to the results for D-glucose, the sodium-dependent component of alpha-methyl-D-glucoside uptake exhibits a nearly linear Eadie-Hofstee plot consistent with a single carrier site with Km approximately 1.9 mM and Vmax approximately 27 nmol/min per mg protein at pH 7.4, 25 degrees C, 100 mM NaCl gradient. 6. The kinetics of D-glucose transport in newborn dog kidney are similar to those in the adult except that the low affinity (GL) system appears to be less well developed.     

Studies on glutathione transport utilizing inside-out vesicles prepared from human erythrocytes

Adenosine triphosphate-dependent glutathione transport was characterized using inside-out vesicles made from human erythrocytes. Kinetic analysis of the glutathione disulfide (GSSG) transport showed a biphasic Lineweaver-Burk plot as a function of GSSG concentration suggesting the operation of two different processes. One phase had a high affinity for GSSG and a low transport velocity. Most active at acidic pH and at 25 degrees C, this transport activity was easily lost during the storage of vesicles at 4 degrees C. The Km for Mg-ATP was 0.63 mM; guanosine triphosphate (GTP) substituted for ATP gave a 340% stimulation fo transport activity. Neither dithiothreitol nor thiol reagents affected this transport process. The other phase had a low affinity for GSSG and a high transport velocity. Most active at pH 7.2 and 37 degrees C, this transport activity was stable during storage of vesicles at 4 degrees C for several days. The Km for Mg-ATP was 1.25 mM; GTP substituted with no change in activity. Dithiothreitol increased the V but did not alter the Km, and thiol reagents inhibited the transport. These findings suggest that there are two independent transfer processes for GSSG in human erythrocytes.     

Effect of Temperature on Growth and Phototropism of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis thaliana</Emphasis> Seedlings

Seedlings of Arabidopsis thaliana grown at 25°C responded to a change in growth temperature by changing their elongation rate within the next 150 min. Regardless of whether the new temperature was higher or lower than 25°C, the seedlings grew slower after the transfer at all tested temperatures. When the seedlings were grown for 2 days at 11.5°C, 17.9°C, and 23.5°C and then transferred to the range of temperatures between 4°C and 38°C they exhibited maximum elongation in the temperature range between 18°C and 23°C. The kinetics of first positive phototropism in seedlings transferred from 25°C to 15°C differed from the kinetics exhibited by seedlings transferred from 25°C to 28°C. At 15°C, measurable curvature began 40–50 min after the blue light (BL) pulse and no straightening was evident within 150 min after the BL pulse. Seedlings transferred to 28°C exhibited kinetics of phototropism similar to the phototropic response of plants maintained at 25°C except that straightening began slightly faster in the seedlings at 28°C. Based on these results, it is concluded that changes in temperature conditions affect both the elongation rate of seedlings and a first positive phototropism and that phototropic curvature and subsequent straightening are independently controlled. In memory of Radomir Konjević (1 August 1946–22 July 2006), plant physiologist, teacher, mentor, and friend.     

Kinetics and effect of salts and polyamines on T4 polynucleotide ligase.

The kinetics of T4 polynucleotide ligase has been investigated at pH 8,20 degrees C and using the double-stranded DNA substrate (dA)n - [(dT)10]n/10. Double-reciprocal plots of initial rates vs substrate concentrations as well as product inhibition studies have indicated that the enzyme reacts according to a ping-pong mechanism. The overall mechanism was found to be non-processive. The true Km for the DNA substrate was 0.6 muM and that of ATP 100 muM. Several attempts were made to reverse the T4 polynucleotide ligase joining reaction using 32-p-labelled (dA)n - [(DT)40]n/40 as substrate. No breakdown of this DNA could be detected. The joining reaction was inhibited by high concentrations, i.e. above approximately 70mM, of salts such as KCl, NaCl, NH4Cl and CsCl. At a concentration of 200 mM almost 100% inhibition was observed. Polyamines also caused inhibition of the enzyme, the most efficient inhibitor being spermine followed by spermidine. At a concentration of 1 mM spermine, virtually no joining took place. Addition of salts or polyamines resulted in a large increase in the apparent Km for the DNA substrate whereas the apparent Km for ATP remained unchanged. It is suggested that the affinity of the enzyme for the DNA substrate is decreased in the presence of inhibiting agents.     

Preparation and characterization of kappa-carrageenan immobilized urease

Urease was encapsulated within kappa-carrageenan beads. Various parameters, such as amount of kappa-carrageenan and enzyme activity, were optimized for the immobilization of urease. Immobilized urease was thoroughly characterized for pH, temperature, and storage stabilities and these properties were compared with the free enzyme. The free urease activity quickly decreased and the half time of the activity decay was about 3 days at 4 degrees C. The immobilized urease remained very active over a long period of time and this enzyme lost about 70.43% of its orginal activity over the period of 26 days for storage at 4 degrees C. The Michaelis constant (Km) and maximum reaction velocity (Vmax) were calculated from Lineweaver-Burk plots for both free and immobilized enzyme systems. Vmax = 227.3 U/mg protein, Km = 65.6 mM for free urease and Vmax = 153.9 U/mg protein, Km = 96.42 mM for immobilized urease showed a moderate decrease of enzyme specific activity and change of substrate affinity.