Phytase and Protease Enzymes can Get Along

Of the three classes of enzymes – non-starch polysaccharides, proteases and phytases – the protease enzymes are the new kid on the block. While the others are widely accepted as beneficial, producers may be concerned with the efficacy of protease enzymes, especially how they interact with phytase, particularly phytase superdosing.

Brad Lawrence, PhD, Swine Technical Manager for Novus International, said there is no reasonto worry. Novus conducted an in vitro assay combining its protease, CIBENZA® DP100, with a high, “superdose” level of phytase to determine the effect of the combination relative protein degradation in a soybean meal sample.

“The work proved that even with a superdose level of phytase, uplift in amino acid availability with DP100 will occur,” Lawrence said. “In vitro assays have shown that DP100 does not degrade phytase, in fact, the protease benefit is maintained even when superdosing phytase.”

Protease enzymes work to make the indigestible protein in feed ingredients more available to the animal by degrading components so they are more easily absorbed into the digestive system. However, Lawrence explained that protease enzymes attack very specific points, which phytase enzymes don’t fit. Also, they are in very small concentrations and work within a certain window of time.

When discussing why CIBENZA DP100 does not degrade phytase, Lawrence stated, “it would be like putting one person in a room of 20,000 people and expecting that person to find one other specific person in a short period of time,” he said. “The odds are against it, just like the odds are against the protease finding the phytase to actually degrade it. Phytase would have to have the specific points that the protease works on to have any ability to degrade the phytase.”

For more information e-mail contact.usa@novusint.com or call your Novus Sales Representative