Abstract

EXTRACTION, PURIFICATION, CHARACTERIZATION AND METAL ION CONCENTRATION OF PAPAIN FROM CARICA PAPAYA L.

Joslin D., Gowthami R., Jenitta Emima Packiyam E., Rama Bhat P.*, Jayadev K. and Shrinidhi Shetty

Abstract

Carica papaya are rich in papain which shows extensive proteolyticactivity towards proteins, short- chain peptides, amino acid, esters andamide links and is applied extensively in the fields of food andmedicine. In the present study it was the goal to investigate the papainenzyme production and to test the enzyme activity under differentconditions like pH, temperature and different metal ion concentration.The solution of papain exhibited an absorption maximum at awavelength of 280nm. The enzyme activity of purified papain was of0.3 U/ml by dialysis membrane and in case of ion exchangechromatography it was 0.24U/ml. The rate of enzyme catalysedreactions generally increases with temperature. In the present study the optimum enzymeactivity was seen at the temperature of 65⁰C and enzyme has shown its maximum activity atpH 6.5, above and below this pH, the activity declines. Enzyme activity was found more withCa2+ and K+ of the metal ions used.

Keywords: Carica papaya, Metal ions, Dialysis, Ion-exchange chromatography.