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Effect of Water-soluble Polymers on Nitrate Reductase Activity

Nature volume 190, pages 1110–1112 (1961)Cite this article

Abstract

SEVERAL years ago Whitaker1 observed that the presence of small quantities of bovine serum albumin, β-lactoglobulin, and other proteins enhanced the activity of a cellulase preparation obtained from culture filtrates of Myrothecium verrucaria when insoluble substrates were used. Tracey2 found a similar effect in the stimulation by cow serum of chitin hydrolysis by chitinase. More recently, activation by polymers has been observed in homogeneous aqueous enzyme systems. The action of liver diaphorase has been reported3 to be enhanced by bovine serum albumin and polyvinylpyrrolidone while polysaccharides, particularly starch, have been shown4 to increase the activity of horse-radish peroxidase. These findings suggest that the in vitro enhancement of enzymic activity by non-catalytic polymeric materials may be a phenomenon of broad biological significance.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Laboratory, Linde Co., Division of Union Carbide Corporation, Tonawanda, New York

    H. R. SCHREINER & A. P. RINFRET

Authors
  1. H. R. SCHREINER
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  2. A. P. RINFRET
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SCHREINER, H., RINFRET, A. Effect of Water-soluble Polymers on Nitrate Reductase Activity. Nature 190, 1110–1112 (1961). https://doi.org/10.1038/1901110b0

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