What is Chymotrypsin?
Chymotrypsin is a digestive enzyme component of pancreatic juice acting in the duodenum, where it performs proteolysis, the breakdown of proteins and polypeptides.Chymotrypsin preferentially cleaves peptide amide bonds where the side chain of the amino acid N-terminal to the scissile amide bond (the P1 position) is a large hydrophobic amino acid (tyrosine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine).These amino acids contain an aromatic ring in their side chain that fits into a hydrophobic pocket (the S1 position) of the enzyme. It is activated in the presence of trypsin. The hydrophobic and shape complementarity between the peptide substrate P1 side chain and the enzyme S1 binding cavity accounts for the substrate specificity of this enzyme.Chymotrypsin also hydrolyzes other amide bonds in peptides at slower rates, particularly those containing leucine at the P1 position.
Everything You Need to Know
What is chymotrypsin used for?
What is the difference between chymotrypsin and trypsin?
Catalytic mechanisms of these two proteases are similar, but their substrate specificities are different. Trypsin favors basic residues like lysine and arginine; chymotrypsin favors aromatic residues like phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan
What does chymotrypsin do in digestion?
This test measures the amount of chymotrypsin in a stool (poop) sample. Chymotrypsin is an enzyme, a protein that speeds up certain chemical reactions in your body. It is released by your pancreas (an organ behind your stomach) to help break down the protein in your food during digestion.
What food does chymotrypsin break down?
Chymotrypsin is a digestive enzyme synthesized in the pancreas that plays an essential role in proteolysis, or the breakdown of proteins and polypeptides. As a component in the pancreatic juice, chymotrypsin aids in the digestion of proteins in the duodenum by preferentially cleaving peptide amide bonds.
Main Details:
Role in Digestion
Chymotrypsin acts in the small intestine to break down dietary proteins, a process known as proteolysis. It is secreted by the pancreas in an inactive form, chymotrypsinogen, which is later activated in the duodenum.
Side Effects
Oral: Rarely, it may cause allergic reactions, including itching, breathing difficulties, and swelling.
Ophthalmic: It can cause temporary or permanent increases in eye pressure.
As a serine protease, chymotrypsin uses a catalytic triad (Aspartate 102, Histidine 57, and Serine 195) to perform a nucleophilic attack on the peptide bonds on the carboxyl side of amino acids like tyrosine, phenylalanine, and tryptophan. It acts through a mechanism involving an acyl-enzyme intermediate.
Medical Uses
Inflammation/Trauma: Often used in combination with trypsin for reducing inflammation, swelling (edema), and accelerating tissue repair following surgeries or injuries.
Ophthalmic Surgery: Used by professionals to assist in cataract surgery.
Pancreatic Function Test: Fecal chymotrypsin tests are used to diagnose pancreatic insufficiency.
ANALYTICAL RESULTS
| Test Item | Method / Reference | Specification | Result | Conclusion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Visual | White to off-white crystalline powder | White powder | Conforms | |
| Identification | Enzymatic activity / USP assay | Positive | Positive | Conforms | |
| Enzyme Activity (Chymotrypsin) | USP / BTEE assay (UV 256 nm) | ≥ 40 U/mg | 52.6 U/mg | Conforms | |
| Specific Activity | Internal method / spectrophotometric | ≥ 35 U/mg protein | 47.8 U/mg protein | Conforms | |
| Loss on Drying | USP <731> | ≤ 5.0% | 2.5% | Conforms | |
| Residue on Ignition | USP <281> | ≤ 2.0% | 0.7% | Conforms | |
| pH (1% solution) | USP <791> | 5.5 – 7.5 | 6.4 | Conforms | |
| Heavy Metals (as Pb) | USP <233> / ICP-MS | ≤ 10 ppm | 1.0 ppm | Conforms | |
| Arsenic (As) | ICP-MS | ≤ 1.0 ppm | 0.05 ppm | Conforms | |
| Lead (Pb) | ICP-MS | ≤ 3.0 ppm | 0.38 ppm | Conforms | |
| Cadmium (Cd) | ICP-MS | ≤ 1.0 ppm | 0.04 ppm | Conforms | |
| Mercury (Hg) | ICP-MS | ≤ 0.1 ppm | < 0.01 ppm | Conforms | |
| Total Plate Count | USP <61> | ≤ 1,000 CFU/g | 90 CFU/g | Conforms | |
| Yeast & Mold | USP <61> | ≤ 100 CFU/g | < 10 CFU/g | Conforms | |
| E. coli | USP <62> | Not detected / g | Not detected | Conforms | |
| Salmonella | USP <62> | Not detected / 10 g | Not detected | Conforms |
Production Process
