CONSTITUTION 463 



hydrate and protein, but may contain from 4 to 10 per cent 

 of nitrogen and a trace of phosphorus. 



CHEMICAL CONSTITUTION. 



The chemical constitution and nature of enzymes is, as 

 yet, largely a matter of speculation, owing to the fact that it 

 is very difhcult to obtain enzymes in a pure condition ; it 

 is particularly difficult to purify them from proteins and this 

 may, to some extent, account for the fact that all enzymes were 

 formerly supposed to be of a protein nature. Willstatter* 

 however, points out that the purification of lipase, saccharase, 

 and peroxidase has been carried so far that the final prepara- 

 tions give no protein reactions and are free from carbohydrate. 



The work of Willstatter indicates that enzymes consist 

 of a chemically active group and a colloidal carrier. The 

 specific nature of the enzyme is associated with the chemically 

 active group which can be transferred from one colloidal 

 carrier to another; separation of an active group from its 

 colloidal carrier involves a loss in activity of the enzyme. 



Willstatter t is of the opinion that for the proper 

 functioning of saccharase, a colloidal carrier is essential ; 

 different substances may function in this capacity according 

 to the process of purification adopted, but a complete absence 

 of carrier may involve a molecular rearrangement in the active 

 saccharase complex with a destruction of its catalytic pro- 

 perties. 



Considerable difference of opinion exists in regard to the 

 special class of enzyme known as oxidases. These, accord- 

 ing to some authors, as for example Dony-Henault,J are not 

 organic compounds at all, but owe their action to the 

 presence of certain inorganic salts, more especially manganese 

 salts, in colloidal solution. Bertrand, § on the other hand, 

 considers that the laccase of Rhus succedanea is a protein, 

 whilst Euler and Bolin j] are of the opinion that the laccase of 



* Willstatter : " Ber. deut. chem. Gesells.," 1926, 59, [B.], i59i- 



i Ibid.. 59, 1591. 



+ Dony-Henault : " Bull. Acad. Roy. Belg.," 1908, 105. 



§ Bertrand : " Ann. Chim. Phys.," 1907, [7], 12. 



!l Euler and Bolin : " Zeit. physiol. Chem.," 1909, 61, i. 



