Proteolytic Activity in the Genus Ficus

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Abstract
The latices of only 13 of a total of 46 spp. of Ficus examined contained appreciable proteolytic activity. High proteolytic activity in the latex, therefore, is not a distinguishing feature of the genus. The latex of F. stenocarpa had the highest specific activity followed closely by the latices of F. cavica and F. glabrata. Latices of 6 Ficus spp. were examined by chromatography on CM [carboxymethyl]-cellulose and compared with the results obtained for 9 vars. of F. carica. All of the latices were found to contain multiple proteolytic enzymes. Chromatographically, the multiple enzyme components of the several varieties of F. carica were more similar than those of the several species examined. The lactices of 16 varieties of F. carica were all different as determined by free boundary electrophoresis although the specific proteolytic activity of the latices was reasonably constant.