FURTHER-STUDIES ON THE ROLES OF PROTEASES IN THE ACTIVATION OF PHENOLASE FROM NORWAY LOBSTER (NEPHROPS-NORVEGICUS)

Phenolase activation in Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) was found to be a result of proteolysis. Endogenous protease activity is shown to activate the phenolase activity directly. The three protease activi ties identified in Norway lobster all affected the phenolase-activatio n process. Protease III, a metal-dependent serine protease, was involv ed in the activation process, but proteases I and II, two thiol protea ses, also affected the activation process by apparently degrading the phenolase present. The phenolase activation in Norway lobster appears to be a result of the balance of the specific proteolytic action of pr otease III and the presumably less discriminative degradation of prote ase I and II.