When the bran is digested in dilute acetic acid the hydrolysis is 

 greater than with the same strength hydrochloric acid, as shown by 

 the following results : 



Table 8 

 EFFECT OF ACETIC ACID ON HYDROLYSIS OF PHOSPHORIC ACID COM- 

 POUND IN WHEAT BRAN 



The maximum activity of the enzyme, as shown by the greatest 

 hydrolysis, was obtained by digesting bran for 48 hours in water and 

 then adding 0.1 per cent, hydrochloric acid and allowing to stand for 

 another 24 hours. Ten grams of bran were digested in 100 cc. of 

 water for 48 hours and then 100 cc. of 0.2 per cent, hydrochloric acid 

 added. After standing for 24 hours more it was filtered and 20 cc. of 

 the filtrate used for each determination. 



Table 9 



MAXIMUM HYDROLYSIS OF PHOSPHORIC ACID COMPOUND 

 IN WHEAT BRAN 



DESTRUCTION OF THE ENZYME "PHYTASE" BY HEAT 



As is shown by the following experiments, the hydrolytic action 

 of the enzyme is completely destroyed when bran is exposed to the 

 action of boiling water or boiling dilute hydrochloric acid for a short 

 time. Ten grams of bran were placed in an Erlenmeyer flask and 

 100 cc. of boiling water poured over it. It was then heated for a few 

 minutes until the water boiled. It was allowed to digest for 24 hours 

 at room temperature. Another lot of bran was treated in the same 

 way but using 0.2 per cent, hydrochloric acid and allowed to stand a 

 few minutes to settle. Lots of 20 cc. of the liquid were then taken 

 for each determination. 



51 



