BIOASSAY AND PROTEOLYTIC ACTIVITY OF DIGESTIVE ENZYMES FROM OCTOPUS SALIVA

1. A bioassay for octopus saliva, based on detachment of crab dactylopodite flexor muscle under standard conditions, has been developed. 2. There is a direct relationship between increasing caseinolytic activity of saliva from Eledone cirrhosa and decreasing muscle detachment time. 3. Fractionation of saliva, using preparative isoelectric focusing, shows that muscle releasing activity is restricted to fractions containing proteins with high isoelectric points and maximum caseinase activity. 4. It is concluded that proteolytic enzyme(s) in octopus saliva selectively release crab muscle from attachment to the carapace.