NEUTRAL PROTEASE ACTIVITY IN THE CRUDE EXTRACT OF COTTON (GOSSYPIUM HIRSUTUM) SEEDS

Abstract

Ten plant seeds were analyzed for protease activity. During the course of screening,
cotton seeds (Gossypium hirsutum) was found more potent for protease activity. The enzyme
was most active at pH 7.0 and the optimum temperature for the enzyme activity was found to
be 30oC. Cotton seeds protease was found heat stable and retains more than 15% activity at
80oC within 10 minutes. Protease activity was increased in the presence of cysteine and
mercaptoethanol but activity decreased by the addition of CaCl2, MnCl2, ZnCl2 and CoCl2 in
the reaction mixture. Protease isolated from Cotton seeds strongly hydrolyzes peptones than
other substrates.