Separation of acid and neutral proteinases of brain.

1. Cerebral proteinases were separated on Sephadex G-100 columns into acid and neutral fractions free from cross-contamination. Acid proteinases were more stable and were purified by additional steps with salt and pH5.0 precipitations, column chromatography on DEAE- or CM-cellulose and free-flow electrophoresis. 2. The separation made it possible to study the properties of the partially purified enzyme fractions. Some of these properties, such as K(m) with selected protein substrates, pH optima and temperature-dependence in the presence and absence of substrates, are described. 3. No requirement for metal ions or added cofactors was demonstrated. Neutral-proteinase activity was more sensitive to inhibition by heavy-metal ions; its activity could be increased by thioglycollate and glutathione, and inhibited by thiol reagents. Neutral and acid proteinases were inhibited by the chymotrypsin inhibitor chloromethyl l-2-phenyl-1-toluene-p-sulphonamidoethyl ketone. 4. In the presence of the appropriate synthetic substrates no cathepsin A activity was found, and only trace quantities of cathepsin B or C activities, which were more than 50-fold less than cathepsin D-like activity.