CONJUGATION OF THE CLASSICAL SOYBEAN BAUMAN-BIRK INHIBITOR WITH A COPOLYMER OF ETHYLENE-OXIDE AND PROPYLENE-OXIDE

A conjugate of the classical soybean Bauman-Birk inhibitor (BBI) with a copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide (PE) was synthesized The BBI-PE conjugate contains five covalently bound polymeric chains per protein molecule and retains its ability to inhibit trypsin (K-i = 10(-10) M), alpha-chymotripsin (K-i = 7.10(-8) M) and human granulocy te elastase (K-i = 3.10(-8) M). The presentation of the antiproteinase activity in the antichymotrypsin center creates a prerequisite for th e manifestation of the anticarcinogenic effect of the inhibitor.