Enzyme Study on Human Gastric Juice

Abstract

The proteolytic activity of human pepsin in gastric juice of control and patients with schistosomiasis, gastritis, duodenal ulcer and reflux esophogitis have been investigated . Specific activity of pepsin in different subjects of gastrointestinal disorders and schistosomiasis was determined using bovine serum albumin and bovine hemoglobin as substrates . The specific activity of hydrolysis of both substrates by the enzyme in schistosomiasis patients is significantly lower than that of control (P < 0.001), while the specific activity of pepsin for hydrolysis of bovine serum albumin and bovine hemoglobin in gastritis and duodenal ulcer is significantly higher than that of control (P < 0.001). Kinetic parameters Km and Vmax for hydrolysis of bovine hemoglobin in control and schistosomiasis were studied. K, value for enzyme in control and schistosomiasis showed no significant variation while Vmax in schistosomiasis showed significant reduction compared to that of control (P <0.001). Reduction of pepsin activity in case of

schistosomiasis may be due to inhibition of enzyme by drugs or change in conformational structure of enzyme . Another possibility for the reduction in enzyme activity could be due to change in isoenzyme pattern of human pepsin in schistosomiasis individuals . In addition to I the above mentioned results, the proteolytic activity of human pepsin towards bovine serum albumin and bovine hemoglobin in control was equivalent to higher concentration of pure porcine pepsin than that of schistosomiasis .