Here's a breakdown of its substrate specificity:
* Primary targets: Bromelain is most effective at breaking down proteins with a high concentration of basic amino acids like arginine and lysine.
* Other substrates: It can also cleave proteins with acidic amino acids like glutamic acid and aspartic acid.
* Specificity: Bromelain is not highly specific, meaning it can break down a wide range of proteins, but its activity is generally higher with proteins rich in basic amino acids.
Note: Bromelain also exhibits some activity on other substrates, such as:
* Carbohydrates: While not as effective as with proteins, bromelain can break down some types of carbohydrates.
* Lipids: It has some activity on lipids, but not as significant as on proteins and carbohydrates.
It's important to remember that bromelain's activity can be influenced by factors like pH, temperature, and the presence of inhibitors.
