Stabilization of enzymes by intramolecular cross-linking using bifunctional reagents

Stability and Stabilization of Enzyme Biosensors: The Key to Successful Application and Commercialization

Fifty-five years have passed and more than 100,000 articles have been published since the first report of an electrochemical enzyme biosensor. However, very few biosensors have reached practical application and commercialization. The bulk of the research effort has been on increasing sensitivity and selectivity. In contrast, the number of publications dealing with stability or stabilization of enzyme biosensors is very small. Here, we critically review enzyme stabilization strategies as well as the progress that has been done in the past 20 years with respect to enzyme biosensor stabilization. Glucose oxidase, lactate oxidase, alcohol oxidase, and xanthine oxidase are the focus of this review because of their potential applications in food. The inconsistency in reporting biosensor stability was identified as a critical hurdle to research progress in this area. Fundamental questions that remain unanswered are outlined.

Chemical cross-linking and protein-protein interactions-a review with illustrative protocols

The general term "protein-protein" interactions refers to the effects of proteins upon each other. The interactions can arise from co-existence in organized structural arrangements or in transient encounters. The latter are difficult to detect and define. Introduction of specific, stable chemical linkages can establish permanent relationships between what would normally be transiently associated species. The review covers the types and purposes of various linkers, including the comparative advantages of various approaches. The emphasis is on practical applications and thus includes methodology in the form of practical protocols for introducing the linkages and interpreting the outcomes.

Immobilised enzymes: science or art?

Enzyme immobilisation is experiencing an important transition. Combinatorial approaches are increasingly applied in the design of robust immobilised enzymes by rational combination of fundamental immobilisation techniques (i.e. non-covalent adsorption, covalent binding, entrapment and encapsulation) or with other relevant technologies. The objective is to solve specific problems that cannot be solved by one of these basic immobilisation techniques.

Mechanism-based strategies for protein thermostabilization

Strategies for stabilizing enzymes can be derived from a two-step model of irreversible inactivation that involves preliminary reversible unfolding, followed by an irreversible step. Reversible unfolding is best prevented by covalent immobilization, whereas methods such as covalent modification of amino acid residues or 'medium engineering' (by the addition of low-molecular-weight compounds) are effective against irreversible 'incorrect' refolding. Genetic modification of the protein sequence is the most effective approach for preventing chemical deterioration.

Removal of N-acetyl groups from blocked peptides with acylpeptide hydrolase. Stabilization of the enzyme and its application to protein sequencing

Acylpeptide hydrolase, an enzyme that removes the modified residue from N-terminally acetylated peptides, has been purified from ovine liver and developed as a tool in sequencing blocked peptides and proteins. Its instability imposes a major limitation on the use of the mammalian enzyme in protein chemistry. Coupling to Sepharose followed by intramolecular cross-linking with dimethyl-suberimidate increased its thermostability and rendered it more resistant to inactivation by either SDS or N,N-dimethylformamide. The resulting enzyme preparation is reusable and more effective at cleaving longer acetylated peptides. It is therefore useful for unblocking acetylated proteins prior to protein sequence analysis. Intact proteins and many isolated peptides are still too large to be cleaved directly, but in this paper we describe a procedure for overcoming this difficulty. The protein is fragmented and non-acetylated peptides are then absorbed out with isothiocyanato-glass. The N-terminal peptide remains in solution and is unblocked with stabilised acylpeptide hydrolase. No chromatographic separation are required. The N-terminal sequence can then be obtained by automated Edman degradation. This procedure has been successfully demonstrated on a large synthetic peptide.

Structure-stability relationship in proteins: fundamental tasks and strategy for the development of stabilized enzyme catalysts for biotechnology

The problem of relationships between the protein structure and its stability comprises two major questions. First, how to elucidate the peculiarities of the protein structure responsible for its stability. Second, knowing the general molecular basis of protein stability, how to change the structure of a given protein in order to increase its stability. This review is an attempt to show the modern state of the first (fundamental) and the second (applied) aspects of the problem.