Characterization of fish acid proteases by substrate-gel electrophoresis

Several analytical techniques based upon the use of substrate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were evaluated to achieve characterization of aspartate proteases in fish stomach. Since aspartate proteases of fish are more stable at high pH than mammalian pepsins, the most accurate technique for activity assessment is electrophoresis at neutral pH and revealing of such activity at low pH with hemoglobin as substrate. The technique is suitable for characterization of proteases and in comparative assessment of acid protease activity in different sparids. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.