Co-aggregation of penicillin g acylase and polyionic polymers: an easy methodology to prepare enzyme biocatalysts stable in organic media

Biomacromolecules. 2004 May-Jun;5(3):852-7. doi: 10.1021/bm0343895.

Abstract

A novel type of biocatalyst that combines the good properties of cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs) and hydrophilic microenvironments has been developed. Dextran sulfate- and polyethyleneimine-coated CLEAs of penicillin acylase (CLEA-GDP) were prepared by adding the polymers of different sizes before the precipitation stage of the enzyme. This study presents the development and optimization of a protocol to produce such a biocatalyst using penicillin acylase as a model. Experiments show that CLEA-GDPs have a highly increased stability in organic media. The average half-life of the preparations was much higher than standard CLEA without a microenvironment (CLEA-G), (e.g., more than 25-fold) in the presence of dioxane. However, their thermal stability was not increased, which leads to the conclusion that the stability of CLEA-GDPs in organic media is due to the hydrophilic microenvironment that surrounds the protein enzyme more than to a conformational stiffening effect. This is further supported by solvation experiments that show a preferential hydration of CLEA when polymers are used to coat the enzyme. CLEA-GDPs are clearly better than other biocatalysts in terms of solvent stability.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • Enzyme Stability
  • Enzymes / chemistry*
  • Hydrolysis
  • Ions
  • Penicillin Amidase / chemistry*
  • Polymers / chemistry*

Substances

  • Enzymes
  • Ions
  • Polymers
  • Penicillin Amidase