Description_x000D_ General description_x000D_ Papain is a cysteine protease, found in Carica papaya. It is composed of a single polypeptide chain containing three disulfide bridges and a sulfhydryl group._x000D_ Application_x000D_ Papain from papaya latex has also been used:_x000D_ • in the enzyme cocktail for dissociating human fetal retinal tissue_x000D_ • to digest chondrocytes/scaffold cultures for total DNA quantification for cell proliferation_x000D_ • as a supplement in neurobasal medium to produce retinal cell suspensions_x000D_ Papain, product P4762 from papaya latex, has been used to digest carotid artery smooth muscle cells. Papain is used in dissecting solutions. It is used to produce Fab fragments of antibodies. It is used for cell dissociation since it has been shown to be more effective and less damaging with certain tissues._x000D_ Used to produce Fab fragments of antibodies. Also used for cell dissociation since it has been shown to be more effective and less damaging with certain tissues._x000D_ Packaging_x000D_ 1, 5 g in glass bottle_x000D_ 50, 100, 500 mg in glass bottle_x000D_ 25 mg in poly bottle_x000D_ Package size based on protein content_x000D_ Biochem/physiol Actions_x000D_ Papain with wide specificity, cleaves peptide bonds of basic amino acids, leucine or glycine. It also hydrolyzes esters and amides. Papain is considered to digest protein substrates more broadly than the pancreatic proteases. Papain is commonly used in cell isolation procedures as it is highly efficient and less harmful than other proteases on certain tissues. The use of papain is known to yield more viable smooth muscle cells, retaining the cell′s sensitivity to stimulants._x000D_ A cysteine protease that cleaves peptide bonds of basic amino acids, leucine, or glycine._x000D_ pH optimum 6.0-7.0_x000D_ Also hydrolyzes esters and amides._x000D_ Unit Definition_x000D_ One unit will hydrolyze 1.0 micromole of N-alpha-benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester (BAEE) per minute at pH 6.2 at 25 deg C._x000D_ Physical form_x000D_ Lyophilized powder containing sodium acetate_x000D_ Preparation Note_x000D_ 2× Crystallized_x000D_ Other Notes_x000D_ View more information on papain at www.sigma-aldrich.com/enzymeexplorer.