Enzyme complex having collagenolytic activity isolated from crabs

摘要

An enzyme complex having collenagenolytic activity, comprising a mixture of collegenolytic proteases from crabs is disclosed. The proteases of the complex have the ability to cleave bovine lens capsule collagen type IV, have molecular weights from about 23,000 to 36,000 daltons, and possess a collagenolytic activity of more than about 3.300 Mandl units/mg at a pH of 7.5. The complex is isolated in aqueous solutions without the use of organic solvents from the hepatopancreas of crabs. The crabs from which the complex can be isolated are of the paralithodes and chinocetes species of crabs.