76216

Papain from Carica papaya

solution, light brown, ≥10 U/mg protein (~25 mg/ml)

• CAS Number: 9001-73-4
• Enzyme Commission number: 3.4.22.2 (BRENDA, IUBMB)
• EC Number: 232-627-2
• MDL number: MFCD00131791
• UNSPSC Code: 12352204
• eCl@ss: 42030311
• NACRES: NA.54

Properties

• biological source: papaya
• form: solution
• specific activity: ≥10 U/mg protein (~25 mg/ml)
• mol wt: M_r ~23000
• technique(s): cell culture | mammalian: suitable; single cell analysis: suitable
• color: light brown
• storage temp.: 2-8°C

Description

General description

Papain is a proteolytic enzyme and is naturally occurring in papaya (Carica papaya L.). It is obtained from the latex of cut unripe papaya. Papain belongs to the cysteine proteinase family. It is a globular, single-chain protein composed of four disulfide bridges and catalytically essential residues. Papain consists of an all α-domain and anti-parallel β-sheet domain.

Application

Papain from Carica papaya has been used:

• in the enzymatic dissociation of rat cortices to extract astrocytes for cell culture
• to study its effects on Alpaca seminal plasma viscosity and sperm function
• to study its effects on the yield and cryo-survival of Rhinoceros spermatozoa

Papain is used as a meat tenderizer. It′s also used to break up tissue in the preparation of primary cell cultures.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Papain is a cysteine protease that cleaves peptide bonds and is known to cleave the Fc portion of antibodies.

Papain plays an important role in many biological processes in many living organisms. It exhibits proteolytic activity against proteins, amino-acid esters and amide links, and short-chain peptides. Papain preferentially cleaves the peptide bonds of basic amino acids such as arginine, phenylalanine, and lysine. It has a wide range of applications in drug discovery, pharmaceutical, food, baking, and dairy industries.

Unit Definition

1 U corresponds to the amount of enzyme which hydrolyzes 1 μmol N-benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester (BAEE, Cat. No. 12880) per minute at pH 6.2 and 25°C

Safety Information

• pictograms: GHS08,GHS07
• signalword: Danger
• hcodes: H315,H319,H334,H335
• pcodes: P261 - P264 - P271 - P280 - P302 + P352 - P305 + P351 + P338
• Hazard Classifications: Eye Irrit. 2 - Resp. Sens. 1 - Skin Irrit. 2 - STOT SE 3
• target_organs: Respiratory system
• Storage Class: 11 - Combustible Solids
• wgk_germany: WGK 1
• flash_point_f: Not applicable
• flash_point_c: Not applicable
• ppe: dust mask type N95 (US), Eyeshields, Faceshields, Gloves