The enzyme can be initially dissolved in 50 mM Hepes/KOH pH 7,4, 150 mM NaCl at 10 mg/ml.

• Lyophilised powder containing calcium acetate and milk sugar
• Solubility: 10 mM NaAc (pH 7,5) and 5 mM CaAc
• Storage temperature: 2 - 8 °C

Dilutions should be made in the cell culture media most appropriate for the cells being dissociated. Dispase is a metalloproteinase and is activated by divalent cations including Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Fe²⁺.

One unit will hydrolyse casein to produce color equivalent to 1,0 μmole (181 μg) of tyrosine per min at pH 7,5 at 37 °C (colour by Folin-Ciocalteu reagent), unless otherwise indicated.

The enzyme is very gentle and does not damage cell membranes. It contains 1 g-atom of zinc per g-mol of purified enzyme. If this zinc component is removed by chelating agents such as EDTA or EGTA, an inactive apoenzyme is obtained. The enzyme is not inhibited by serum.