Effect of ultrasound on the activity and conformation of α-amylase, papain and pepsin

• The activity of α-amylase and papain was inhibited by ultrasonic treatment.
• The activity of pepsin was activated by the tested ultrasound irradiation.
• The pepsin gradually recovered from the ultrasound-induced damage to its structure.
• The secondary and tertiary structures of testing enzymes were changed by ultrasound.

The effect of ultrasound on the activity of α-amylase, papain and pepsin was investigated and the mechanism of the effect was explored by determining their conformational changes. With the irradiation of power ultrasound, the activity of α-amylase and papain was inhibited, while the activity of pepsin was activated. According to the analysis of circular dichroism, Fourier transform infrared and fluorescence spectroscopy, the πo → π∗ amide transitions and secondary structural components, especially β-sheet, of these three enzymes were significantly influenced by ultrasound. The tryptophan fluorescence intensity of the three enzymes was also observed to be affected by sonication. Furthermore, it was found that the pepsin molecule might gradually be resistant to prolonged ultrasonic treatment and recover from the ultrasound-induced damage to its original structure. The results suggested that the activity of α-amylase, papain and pepsin could be modified by ultrasonic treatment mainly due to the variation of their secondary and tertiary structures.