Ovalbumin is an elastase substrate.

Ovalbumin is partially homologous in sequence with the proteinase inhibitors alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor and anti-thrombin III. The region of sequence in ovalbumin which corresponds to the reactive sites of these proteinase inhibitors is susceptible to attack by subtilisin, elastase, thermolysin, bromelain, and Bacillus cereus protease. The esterase activity of elastase is not inhibited by ovalbumin, but ovalbumin is efficiently cleaved by elastase. In contrast with these proteases, trypsin does not cleave ovalbumin.