Differentiation of Enzyme Coagulants on Casein-Agar Gels

Enzyme coagulants were differentiated on pit 6.85 casein-agar gels. Calf rennet extracts produced primary and secondary precipitate zones separated by a wide clear zone in 24 horn's. Swine pepsin produced no visible change or a slight primary zone of smaller diameter. Coagulants from Endothia parasitica and Mucor pusillus vat. Lindt produced single zones of variable intensities. The fungal enzymes tended to clear the agar behind the zone. A substance diffusing ahead of the zone from fungal coagulants redissolved the primary rennet zone diffusing from adjacent wells. Characteristics of secondary precipitate zones detected less than 1% of either fungal enzyme in rennet, pepsin, or 50% rennetpepsin blends. Rennet-pepsin blends with more than 20% pepsin had weak secondary precipitate zones. No secondary zones appeared when pepsin exceeded 60%.