EFFECT OF GAS HYDRATES AND HYDRATE FORMERS ON INVERTASE ACTIVITY

Gas hydrates are inclusion compounds of the clathrate or cage type, many of which are stable above 0 °. The object of this study was to determine the effects of some gas hydrates and hydrate formers on invertase activity. It was shown that invertase activity: (1) was not significantly influenced by the increase in solute concentration that accompanied hydrate formation, (2) was not significantly influenced by the presence of crystalline hydrates of CCl3F or propane, (3) was decreased significantly and irreversibly by exposure to liquid CCl3F, and (4) was decreased greatly and irreversibly by gradual decomposition of either CCl3F or propane hydrate. Since hydrate decomposition results in a molecular dispersion of the hydrate former in water, intimate contact would no doubt occur between the hydrate former (CCl3F or propane) and invertase, and this is the probable cause of the decrease in enzyme activity. © 1969.