Background: Protease (or proteolytic) enzymes

Many plants, bacteria and animals contain proteolytic enzymes, whose work is to digest proteins or
poylpeptide chains into dipeptides or free amino acids. These amino acids then become available to the
organism in order for it to synthesise the proteins which it requires. In fruits such as pineapple and papaya,
these proteolytic enzymes might help the fruit make itself more palatable and easier for an animal to digest,
so assisting in the easier release of the seeds.

ENZYME INVESTIGATION
The aims of your investigation are:
1. to discover which fruits contain an enzyme which is able to digest collagen in
2. to ascertain whether the enzyme can be denatured by high heat

gelatine

As a class we will test the natural juice extract from a variety of fruits which possibly or are known to
contain protease enzymes.
The task of each pair or small group is to prepare and carry out an investigation into one fruit, collect
results and make conclusions, according to the scoring rubric included here.
TIME-FRAME
Tuesday 23rd February:
Homework:
Tuesday 1st March
Homework:

Introduction and planning

Confirm planning and prepare fruits
Run investigation
Complete results and conclusions forma

FRUITS
Pineapple - known to contain bromelain
Papaya - known to contain papain
Varieties of papaya-like fruit - most contain papain
Kiwi fruit - known to contain actinidin
Fresh figs - known to contain ficin
Noni
Guava (Guayaba)
Mango
Passion fruit (Maracuy)
Star fruit (Fruta estrella)
EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS
Fruit juice (about 10 ml of each is sufficient):
i)
fresh
ii)
boiled
Exposed photographic film (containing gelatin)
10 ml syringes
Petri dishes

John Osborne
February 2016