Polypeptides possessing catalytic properties

The catalytic properties of synthetic polypeptides containing L-amino acids with the sequences H-(His-Glu)_n-OH, H-(Ser-Glu)_n-OH, H-(His-Tyr)_n-OH, and H-(Trp-Glu)_n-OH in the hydrolysis of p-NPA (para-nitrophenyl acetate) are considered. The dependences of the rates of the polypeptide-catalyzed hydrolysis of p-NPA on the pH of the medium, the temperature, and the concentration of p-NPA are discussed. V_max, K_m, and K″ — the effective rate constants of the hydrolysis of p-NPA — and K₂ — the constant for the splitting out of p-nitrophenol from the substrate — have been found and calculated.