Abstract

The activities of enzyme preparations supplied for soaking, unhairing and bating against collagenous proteins and skin tissue were investigated. All the enzymes showed some activity on collagen, increasing the solubility in 66% acetone. Some enzymes liberated amino groups from the collagen preparations. The effects on collagen in whole calf skin were not so great as with the collagen preparations, but the solubility was increased. All the enzymes reduced the isometric tension developed by skin when heated in water. There is some evidence that the enzymes may act by reducing the number of intermolecular crosslinks and the significance of this for leather making processes is discussed.