Figure 1

Comparison of proteolytic activity towards a peptide substrate in grass pollen diffusates. A. Typical fluorescence vs time profile of trypsin (---•---) Kentucky blue grass diffusate (------) and PBS (·····◆·····) after incubation with Nα-benzoyl-L-Arg 7-amido-4-methylcoumarin for 1 min then fluorescence measured every min for 70 min. Fluorescence of Bermuda grass reached a similar level and rye grass was ~ 2 × > Kentucky blue grass diffusate after 60 min. B. Pollen diffusates of Kentucky blue grass (■), rye grass (■) and Bermuda grass (■) (± inhibitors) were incubated with NBAMC for 1 min, then fluorescence measured after ~ 60 min. Maximum fluorescence was generally reached at ~ 60 min and values obtained after addition of inhibitors are expressed as relative reduction in activity compared to diffusates alone (100%).