Abstract

Evidence has been obtained to suggest that lysosomal enzymes can cause hair-loosening in hides that have been frozen or equilibrated to acid pH values. Both treatments rupture the lysosomes within the hide and acid conditions are favourable for the action of the enzymes released. It would appear that the hair-loosening effect of acetic acid, which has been developed into a commercial depilation process for sheepskins, is due to lysosomal enzymes.