A Simple Method for Enzyme Concentration

Abstract

A METHOD for the concentration of enzymes and other biological colloids was recently described by Guy E. Youngbourg¹. By this method the volume of the active solution is reduced by dialysing it against a concentrated solution of dextrin. In a previous paper² concerning the concentration of taka-diastase it was shown that this method was impracticable for sugar-hydrolysing enzymes, owing to the diffusion of part of the dextrin into the solution. Seeking other methods of concentration, we succeeded in finding a simple procedure by dialysing against 96 percent ethyl alcohol or acetone as the outside solution (provided only that the active substance is not inactivated by them). By this procedure the volume of the active substance is rapidly reduced. A partial precipitation from the solution during concentration sometimes occurs, but does not interfere with the final result.