The effect of temperature on the individual stages of the hydrolysis of non-specific-p-nitrophenol esters by alpha-chymotrypsin.

Precise studies were performed on the effect of temperature on the rate and equilibrium parameters characterizing the individual stages of the alpha-chymotrypsin-catalysed hydrolysis of non-specific p-nitrophenol esters at pH 7.40 and 8.50. At both pH values the results indicate that a sharp kinetic anomaly is observed in Arrhenius plots of these parameters for the binding and acylation stages of the process, but not for the deacylation stage. Detailed comparison with other kinetic studies was made, and a comparison with thermal transitions observed in alpha-chymotrypsin by using physical techniques was attempted. A detailed discussion of possible causes of the anomalies is given.