Improved complementary polymer pair system: switching for enzyme activity by PEGylated polymers

Langmuir. 2012 Mar 6;28(9):4334-8. doi: 10.1021/la2043312. Epub 2012 Feb 21.

Abstract

The development of technology for on/off switching of enzyme activity is expected to expand the applications of enzyme in a wide range of research fields. We have previously developed a complementary polymer pair system (CPPS) that enables the activity of several enzymes to be controlled by a pair of oppositely charged polymers. However, it failed to control the activity of large and unstable α-amylase because the aggregation of the complex between anionic α-amylase and cationic poly(allylamine) (PAA) induced irreversible denaturation of the enzyme. To address this issue, we herein designed and synthesized a cationic copolymer with a poly(ethylene glycol) backbone, poly(N,N-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEAMA-b-PEG). In contrast to PAA, α-amylase and β-galactosidase were inactivated by PEAMA-b-PEG with the formation of soluble complexes. The enzyme/PEAMA-b-PEG complexes were then successfully recovered from the complex by the addition of anionic poly(acrylic acid) (PAAc). Thus, dispersion of the complex by PEG segment in PEAMA-b-PEG clearly plays a crucial role for regulating the activities of these enzymes, suggesting that PEGylated charged polymer is a new candidate for CPPS for large and unstable enzymes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Models, Theoretical
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • alpha-Amylases / metabolism
  • beta-Galactosidase / metabolism

Substances

  • Polymers
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • alpha-Amylases
  • beta-Galactosidase