Abstract
Multi-component random copolypeptides consisting of N-hydroxyethyl-L-glutamine, L-glutamic acid, and L-lysine, related two component random copolymers and homopolymers, were synthesized by N-carboxyamino acid anhydride (NCA) method following deblocking of the benzyl as well as benzyloxy units of side chains by anhydrous HBr, and then aminolysis reaction with 2-amino-1-ethanol (E) of methyl unit. All the water soluble copolypeptides were found extensively degraded by random chain fracture with bromelain. Degradation data for these samples followed the Michaelis-Menten rate law, being of the first order to the enzyme concentration. It was found that the rate of enzymatic hydration for negative charged polypeptides was smaller than those for non-charged and amphoteric polypeptides.
