Bull Semen Ribonucleases. 2. Catalytic Properties of the Major Component

The enzymatic properties of the major component of ribonuclease activity of bovine seminal plasma, RNAase BS-1 have been investigated. From the analysis of reaction products and from substrate specificity studies, RNAase BS-1 has been characterized as a phosphotransferase, whose specificity closely resembles that of the well-known pancreatic ribonuclease of the same species. Some of the kinetic parameters of the enzyme have been defined. The close similarity of the enzymatic properties of the seminal and pancreatic RNAases is discussed in reference to the structural differences between the two enzymes.