KINETIC INVESTIGATION OF THE ACTION OF HYALURONIDASE ON HYALURONAN USING THE MORGAN-ELSON AND NEOCUPROINE ASSAYS

摘要

In this paper we describe kinetic investigations of the action of testicular hyaluronidase on hyaluronan. We have compared the use of two spectrophotometric assays, the first based on the Morgan-Elson reaction and the second on the neocuproine reaction. With the neocuproine reaction K-m was found to be 0.46 mg/ml and V-max to be 126 nmol l(-1) s(-1). Because of a low sensitivity and the production of interfering precipitates, the Morgan-Elson assay cannot be used for kinetic investigation of the enzyme. Furthermore this assay is prone to interference from compounds such as disodium cromoglycate, (+)-catechine, penicillamine, CaCl2 and acetate buffer.