Characterization of fish acid proteases by substrate-gel electrophoresis

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