Abstract
INTRAVENOUS injection of unactivated papain into young rabbits leads to collapse of their ears due to loss of matrix1, reduction of the chondroitin sulphate in the ear cartilage2,3 and the appearance of chondroitin sulphate in the blood and urine3,4. Activated papain does not produce this gross effect, and it has been suggested5,6 that the active enzyme combines with inhibitors in the blood, whereas the inactive papain is activated by sulphydryl groups in cartilage itself and attacks the mucopolysaccharide/protein complex, releasing the chondroitin sulphate.
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LACK, C., ANDERSON, A. & ALI, S. Action of Plasmin on Cartilage Matrix in vivo. Nature 191, 1402–1403 (1961). https://doi.org/10.1038/1911402a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/1911402a0
