Description
Chymopapain is a proteolytic enzyme isolated from the latex of papaya (Carica papaya). It is a medication used to treat herniated lower lumbar discs in the spine. Chymopapain injections are normally given under local, Rather than general, anaesthesia. The dose for a single intervertebral disc is 2 to 4 nanokatals, with a maximum dose per patient of 8 nanokatals. The procedure is referred to as chemonucleolysis.
Abbr
Chymopapain, Native (Papaya latex)
Applications
Chymopapain from papaya latex has been used in a study to assess the anthelmintic effect of natural plant cysteine proteinases against the gastrointestinal nematode, Heligmosomoides. Chymopapain from papaya latex has also been used in a study to investigate the preparation and identification of the rabbit′s antibody of chymopapain. The enzyme has been used to detach cultured CD34+ cells from beads (130 units/mL for 2 minutes, repeated three times). Chymopapain and pronase have been found to be effective in the digestion of human intestinal tissue. The enzyme has been used along with pronase, collagenase, elastase, DNAse, and catalase for rabbit lung cells digestion at a concentration of 0.05% in calcium-magnesium-free Kreb′s serum substitute. It has also been used for the release of neuroblastoma cells from marrow bound to antibody-coated microspheres.
Enzyme Commission Number
EC 3.4.22.6
Activity
> 2.0 units/mg protein
Composition
Protein, > 75% E1%/280
Unit Definition
One unit will hydrolyze 1.0 μmole of BAEE to Nα-benzoyl-L-arginine per min at pH 6.2 at 25°C
Synonyms
chymopapain A; chymopapain B; chymopapain S; EC 3.4.22.6; 9001-09-6; Chymodiactin
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