Treatment of a metabolic disease, scurvy, by administration of the missing enzyme.

Reaction of immunoprecipitated L-gulonolactone oxidase with glutaraldehyde allows multiple administrations of large amounts of this enzyme extracted from either chicken or rats to guinea pigs. L-Gulonolactone oxidase converts L-gulonolactone to ascorbic acid, and its absence from guinea pigs and primates results in their requirement for this vitamin. By administration of this enzyme guinea pigs are able to survive on an ascorbic-acid-deficient regimen.