UV-Modification of Free and Immobilized Trypsin

We investigated the mechanism of UV-radiation influence on trypsin in free and immobilized (on chitosan) states. The catalytic activity of free enzyme under the action of UV-light is subjected to changes to a greater extent than that of the immobilized one. We assume that the photoprotection effect of chitosan is caused for the following reasons: firstly, through interactaction with trypsin molecules chitosan forms a more photoresistant complex as compared to the native protein; secondly, chitosan probably binds the active photopro- ducts of a free radical nature, thus preventing oxidation (destruction) of several amino acids of the enzyme under its UV-radiation.

Construction of a Near-Infrared-Activatable Enzyme Platform To Remotely Trigger Intracellular Signal Transduction Using an Upconversion Nanoparticle

Photoactivatable (caged) bioeffectors provide a way to remotely trigger or disable biochemical pathways in living organisms at a desired time and location with a pulse of light (uncaging), but the phototoxicity of ultraviolet (UV) often limits its application. In this study, we have demonstrated the near-infrared (NIR) photoactivatable enzyme platform using protein kinase A (PKA), an important enzyme in cell biology. We successfully photoactivated PKA using NIR to phosphorylate its substrate, and this induced a downstream cellular response in living cells with high spatiotemporal resolution. In addition, this system allows NIR to selectively activate the caged enzyme immobilized on the nanoparticle surface without activating other caged proteins in the cytosol. This NIR-responsive enzyme-nanoparticle system provides an innovative approach to remote-control proteins and enzymes, which can be used by researchers who need to avoid direct UV irradiation or use UV as a secondary channel to turn on a bioeffector.

[Influence of UV-radiation on physical-chemical and functional properties of free immobilized glucoamylase from Aspergillus awamori]

The effect of UV light (240-390 nm) at the doses of 151-1510 J/m2 on the catalytic activity of free and im- mobilized glucoamylase from Aspergillus awamori was investigated. It was established that the loss of catalytic activity of the enzyme was associated with photochemical transformations of Trp-120, which is part of the active site of glucoamylase. It was shown that the use of collagen as a carrier for immobilization of glucoamylase reduces the constant photoinactivation of the enzyme. It was suggested that the protective effect of collagen in relation to the glucoamylase subjected to UV irradiation may be related to the acceptance of reactive oxygen species by collagen and the formation of the complex carrier-enzyme which is more photostable than the native enzyme.

Ultrasound-assisted generation of ACE-inhibitory peptides from casein hydrolyzed with nanoencapsulated protease

BACKGROUND

Bioactive peptides generated from milk proteins are eminent ingredients for functional foods and nutraceuticals. Amongst several approaches to release these peptides, hydrolysis of milk proteins with proteolytic enzymes is a promising choice. It is, however, required to inactivate the enzyme after a predetermined time, which leads to impurity of the final product. Immobilization of enzyme molecules can overcome this problem as it simplifies enzyme separation from the reaction mixture. A fungal protease from Aspergillus oryzea was encapsulated within nanoparticles yielded via silicification of polyamidoamine dendrimer template generation 0. It was used to hydrolyze the dominant milk protein (casein) in the absence or presence of sonication. The production of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory peptides was monitored during hydrolysis.

RESULTS

Sonication did not affect maximum ACE-inhibitory activity but shortened the process sixfold. Ultrafiltration permeate of the centrifugal supernatant of casein solution hydrolyzed during sonication inhibited ACE activity as efficiently as the supernatant obtained from it.

CONCLUSION

The protease from Aspergillus oryzea encapsulated within nanospheres is suitable for generation of ACE-inhibitory peptides from casein. The nanoncapsulation procedure is simple, rapid and efficient. This may enable the industrial production of functional products from milk.

Ultrasound-radiated synthesis of PAMAM-Au nanocomposites and its application on glucose biosensor

Hybrid nanocomposites of carboxyl-terminated generation 4 (G 4) poly(amidoamine) dendrimers (PAMAM) with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) encapsulated inside them were synthesized under ultrasound irradiation. The obtained nanocomposites were used to fabricate highly sensitive amperometric glucose biosensor which exhibited a high and reproducible sensitivity of 2.9 mA/mM/cm(2), response time less than 5 s, linear dynamic range from 0.1 to 15.8 microM, correlation coefficient of R(2)=0.9988, and limit of detection (LOD), based on S/N ratio (S/N=3) of 0.05 microM. A value of 2.7 mM for the apparent Michaelis-Menten constant K(M)(app) was obtained. The high sensitivity, wider linear range, good reproducibility and stability make this biosensor a promising candidate for portable amperometric glucose biosensor.

Are sonochemically prepared alpha-amylase protein microspheres biologically active?

Using high-intensity ultrasound, we have synthesized alpha-amylase microspheres. The paper presented characterization as well as catalytic experiments of the sonochemically-produced microspheres. It also provided an estimate of the efficiency of the sonochemical process in converting the native protein to microspheres. These microspheres showed a very good enzymatic activity compared with the native alpha-amylase. The enzymatic activity of the amylase microspheres was 27% of that of the native protein after a short reaction time (3 min), while over a longer reaction time (1 h) it reached 56% of the activity of the native protein.

Chemically surface modified gel (CSMG): An excellent enzyme-immobilization matrix for industrial processes

Invertase from S. cerevisiae has been immobilized on porous silica matrix, formed using sol-gel chemistry, with surface area of approximately 650 m(2)/g. The co-condensation of silica sol with 3-aminopropyl(triethoxy)silane produced an amino-chemically surface modified silica gel (N-CSMG) with a very high ligand loading of 3.6 mmol/g SiO(2); significantly higher than commercially available matrices. Surface amine groups were activated with glutaraldehyde to produce GA-N-CSMG, and invertase covalently attached by the aldehyde. Invertase was used as a model enzyme to measure the immobilizing character of the GA-N-CSMG material. Using an optimized immobilization protocol, a very high loading of 723 mg invertase per gram GA-N-CSMG is obtained; 3-200-fold higher than values published in literature. The reproducible, immobilized activity of 246,000 U/g GA-N-CSMG is also greater than any other in literature. Immobilized invertase showed almost 99% retention of free enzyme activity and no loss in catalytic efficiency. The apparent kinetic parameters K(M) and V(M) were determined using the Michealis-Menten kinetic model. K(M) of the free invertase was 1.5 times greater than that of the immobilized invertase--indicating a higher substrate affinity of the immobilized invertase. These findings show considerable promise for this material as an immobilization matrix in industrial processes.

Immobilization and enzymatic activity of glucose oxidase on polystyrene surface modified with ozone aeration and UV irradiation in distilled water and/or aqueous ammonia solution

Adsorption condition and enzymatic activity of glucose oxidase (GOD) on polystyrene (PS) film surfaces modified with ozone aeration and UV irradiation (O3/UV) treatment were investigated. The total amount of GOD immobilized on the PS film modified with the O3/UV treatment in distilled water (PS-W film) was approximately twice as large as that on the film treated in an aqueous ammonia solution (PS-A film), whereas the specific activity of GOD on the PS-A film was four times higher than that on the PS-W film. In contrast, no enzymatic activity of GOD on the non-treated PS film was observed because of irreversible denaturation of the adsorbed GOD. We therefore conclude that the PS films modified by the O3/UV treatment in the aqueous media are effective in immobilizing GOD.

Modulation of the catalytic activity of free and immobilized peroxidase by extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields: dependence on frequency

A study of the influence of electromagnetic fields (EMF) of various frequencies, from 50 up to 400 Hz, on the catalytic activity of soluble and insoluble horseradish peroxidase (POD) was carried out. To simulate the conditions in which the enzyme operates in vivo, the POD was immobilized by entrapment on a gelatin membrane or by covalent attachment on a nylon graft membrane. The rate of inactivation of the soluble POD was found to exhibit positive and negative interactions with the 1 mT applied magnetic field, with an optimum positive effect at 130 Hz. The immobilized PODs, on the contrary, do not exhibit negative interactions, but show a maximum positive interaction at 150 Hz when entrapped and at 170 Hz when covalently attached. At 50 Hz and at frequencies higher than 250 Hz no effects were observed with insoluble POD. The optimum frequency of positive interaction between the EMF and the catalytic activity of the insoluble enzymes is shifted with respect to that of the soluble enzymes towards higher frequencies, the size of the shifts being dependent on the intensity of the physical forces involved in the immobilization process.

Stability improvement of immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B in an organic medium under microwave radiation

The influence of microwave heating on the stability of immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B was studied at 100 degrees in an organic medium. The microwave radiation was carried out before enzymatic reaction (storage conditions) or during the enzymatic catalysis (use conditions). In both cases, enzymatic stability was higher under microwave heating than under conventional thermal heating, in strictly identical operating conditions. Furthermore, the gain of enzymatic stability under microwave heating appears to be higher in a more polar solvent, which interacts strongly with the microwave field. Our results suggest that microwave radiation has an effect, not related to temperature, on the process of enzymatic inactivation.

Patterning of photosensitive polyimide LB film and its application in the fabrication of biomolecular microphotodiode array

Ultra thin film of photosensitive polyimide having benzene and sulfonyloxyimide moieties in the main chain was prepared using a Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique, and then micro array pattern of the polyimide LB film on a gold substrate was obtained by deep UV lithographic technique. In order to array cytochrome c molecules along the micro-patterned gold substrate, the well-characterized monolayer of cytochrome c was immobilized with a mixed monolayer of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (11-MUDA) and decanethiol. The redox activity and electron transfer between cytochrome c molecular center and gold electrode interface for the self-assembled cytochrome c monolayer were investigated by cyclic voltammetry measurement. Biomolecular photodiode consisting of cytochrome c and green fluorescent protein (GFP) onto the patterned gold substrate was fabricated by self-assembly process. The integration and morphology of cytochrome c and GFP were studied from the measurements of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and fluorescence emission. Especially, current-voltage characteristics of the protein multilayers were investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and its application in biomolecular photodiode was also examined.

In vitro studies of the influence of ELF electromagnetic fields on the activity of soluble and insoluble peroxidase

The influence of an extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic field (50 Hz and 1 mT, EMF) on the activity of a soluble and insoluble horseradish peroxidase (E.C. 1.11.17) has been studied as a function of time. Insoluble derivatives were obtained by enzyme entrapment into two different gelatin membranes or by covalent attachment of the enzyme on two nylon membranes, differently preactivated. Results have shown that the field affects the inactivation rate of the soluble enzyme, while no effects are observed with insoluble derivatives. Since in vivo enzymes are immobilised into the biomembrane bilayer or entrapped into the cytoplasmic mixture, one might speculate that our experimental conditions do not reflect the catalytic activity of the enzymes in vivo.

[Photochemical transformation of lactate dehydrogenase isoforms: UV-sensitivity in the presence of biogenous amines]

It has been all round investigation of UV-irradiation influence in a wide dose range on the structural and functional properties of human blood lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzymes. The photoprotective action of biogenous amines on the functional activity of different enzyme isoforms was found. It has been established that the protective action of biogenous amines is caused by the formation of complex LDH--biogenous amine and by the acception of the active oxygen forms by the molecules of lactate dehydrogenase. Under the conditions of exogenous singlet oxygen generation in the presence of methylene blue, the inactivation of immobilized LDH tetramers and subunits was observed, that shows participation of this active intermediate in the processes of UV-modification of the enzyme in soluble and immobilized states. The scheme of processes of LDH molecules phototransformations in the presence of biogenous amines has been suggested.

[Optimization of the conditions of immobilization of enzymes in a photopolymeric membrane]

The residual activity of enzymes immobilized in the membrane on the basis on 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone as photopolymerizable composition is studied. It is established, that under conditions of the immobilization at 20 degrees C the residual activity glucoseoxidase is about 35% from a initial level, horseredish peroxidase and urease from Jeack beans--42% and 20%, respectively. In case of an immobilization of beta-glucoseoxidase -50 degrees C it reaches almost 50% from a initial level. It was investigated the influence of different sources of UV-radiation and different substances on stability of the enzymes in the composition and in the immobilization matrix at storage. Dynamic of changes of enzyme activity at the photoimmobilization was characterized, and also the requirements for providing of its maximal storage was selected.

Immobilization of adenosine deaminase onto agarose and casein

In the present study adenosine deaminase (ADA) was immobilized onto two different polymeric materials, agarose and casein. The factors affecting the amount of enzyme attachment onto the polymeric supports such as incubation time were investigated. The maximum amount of enzyme immobilized onto different polymeric supports occurred at incubation pH value 7.5 and ADA concentration 42 units/g and the incubation time needed for the maximum amount of enzyme attachment to the polymeric supports was found to be 8 h. Some phsicochemical properties of the free and immobilized ADA such as operational stability, optimum temperature and thermal stability, pH optimum and stability, storage stability, and the effect of gamma-radiation were studied. The operational stability of the free and immobilized enzyme showed that the enzyme immobilized by a cross-linking technique using gultaric dialdehyde showed poor durability and the relative activity decreased sharply due to the leakage after repeated washing, while the enzymes immobilized by covalent bonds to the carriers showed a slight decrease in most cases in the relative activity (around 20%) after being used 10 times. Storage for 4-6 months, showed that the free enzyme lost its activity, while the immobilized enzyme showed the opposite behavior. Subjecting the immobilized enzyme to a dose of gamma radiation of 0.5-10 Mrad showed complete loss in the activity of the free enzyme at a dose of 5 Mrad, while the immobilized enzymes showed relatively high resistance to gamma radiation up to a dose of 5 Mrad.

[The study of photochemical immobilization of urease on polyether sulfone film surface]

A new method of using photoactivable ester with azido group was described to immobilize urease on polyether sulfone(PES) film surface. The effects of photoactive enzyme concentration, temperature, pH, irradiation time on the activity of immobilized urease were investigated. Reused times and storage stability were also studied. The results showed that the surface concentration of urease immobilized on PES surface was about 0.33 mg/cm2. When the irradiation time was 5 minutes, the relative activity of immobilized urease was the highest and the activity increased with the increase of the concentration of photoactive urease solution. The optimum pH and temperature of immobilized urease were 7 and 50 degrees C respectively. The relative activity of immobilized urease was stable (50%) after 12 times reused at 50 degrees C.

Radiation technology in the preparation of polyethylene oxide hydrophilic gels and immobilization of proteases for use in medical practice

This paper deals with the development of a technology for making a hydrophilic gel of polyethylene oxide reception in which radiating ability is employed to cause cross-linking of polymers in a water solution. The gel of polyethylene oxide was shown to be non-toxic, contain 5-50% of polymer and be useful in composite medicinal forms along with biologically active substances including Bac. subtilis proteases. Proteases immobilized in the gel possess high thermal stability and proteolytic activity and are readily applied in medicine. The effect of immobilized proteolytic and glucolytic enzymes of Bac. subtillis (Immozimase) on the warm ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) which can cause hepatic and jejunum injury was also studied. These enzymes were immobilized on water-soluble polymer polyethylene glycol by means of an electron beam. The number of degranulated mast cells as well as serum ALT after I/R in the group with Immozimase was decreased to almost half as compared with the control group. Pretreatment with Immozimase resulted in significant reduction of hepatic and gut neutrophil accumulation as compared with control animals. It was concluded that Immozimase has a protective effect for hepatic and gut ischemia/reperfusion, and this effect seems to be associated with prevention of leukocyte accumulation.

[The effect of urea, gamma- and UV-irradiation on physico-chemical characteristics of native and immobilized inulinase]

The immobilization of inulinase by ionexchange AB-26 and AB-17-2P has been made by adsorbtion and glutaraldehyde methods. The effect of UV-radiation, carbamide and gamma-rays on the stability of native and immobilized enzyme has been investigated. The stability of inulinase in relation to denaturation agents has been shown to increase with the immobilization of ionexchange. The character of binding with the matrix affects greatly the stability of immobilized enzyme to physical factors.

Photoimmobilization of organophosphorus hydrolase within a PEG-based hydrogel

Organophosphorous hydrolase (OPH) was physically and covalently immobilized within photosensitive polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based hydrogels. The hydroxyl ends of branched polyethylene glycol (b-PEG, four arms, MW = 20,000) were modified with cinnamylidene acetate groups to give water-soluble, photosensitive PEG macromers (b-PEG-CA). The b-PEG-CA macromers underwent photocrosslinking reaction and formed gels upon UV irradiation (>300 nm) in the presence of erythrosin B. Native OPH was pegylated with cinnamylidene-terminated PEG chains (MW = 3400) to be covalently linked with the b-PEG-CA macromers during photogelation. The effect of pegylation on the stability of the enzyme was determined. Furthermore, the effect of enzyme concentration, wavelength of irradiation, and photosensitizer on the stability of the entrapped enzyme was also investigated. The pegylated OPH was more stable than the native enzyme, and the OPH-containing gels exhibited superior stability than the soluble enzyme preparations.

[Immobilization of the lytic enzyme complex lysoricephine]

Entrapping of the lysoenzyme complex of lysoricephine in solutions of hydrophilic polymers and its immobilization on dressing materials were performed. Immobilized preparations that retained 80-100% of the lytic activity and stable during storage were obtained. Properties of the immobilized preparations: dependence on pH and temperature, stability in acidic medium, and effect of gamma-radiation were studied. It was shown that coimmobilization with protease C induced a 1.5-1.7-fold increase in the lytic activity of the immobilized preparation compared to the native enzyme complex of lysoricephine.

[Coimmobilization of proteolytic and bacteriolytic enzymes and properties of isolated materials]

Coimmobilization of proteolytic and bacteriolytic enzymes on a carboxyl-containing grafted cellulose copolymer was studied. The resistance of lysozyme to gamma-sterilization significantly increased after coimmobilization with a proteolytic enzyme. The resulting material accelerated the cleansing of wounds.

Appearance of high enzyme activity in immobilized urease disc by electron beam irradiation technique

A new preparation method of immobilized urease discs for biomedical applications, which was a thin circular film (200 microns, 50mm phi), was developed. The method was achieved by electron beam irradiation of polyethyleneglycol diacrylate monomers in the addition of paper disc and bean powder as protective substance for irradiation by which a denaturation of the enzyme by irradiation was effectively prevented. The immobilized enzyme disc with a high enzyme activity (remaining activity yield), about 90%, was obtained. The enzyme activity was varied by the preparation conditions such as the thickness of paper disc, monomer concentration etc. The enzymes were trapped near the surface of the disc to be easily reacted with substrate. The trapped state of the enzymes appeared to be affected by a hydrophilicity of the polymers.

[The effect of the amount of dialdehyde cellulose-bound enzyme on the activity of immobilized trypsin after gamma irradiation and in the storage process]

It is found the complex effect of the bound enzyme concentration on the proteolytic activity of trypsin immobilized to dialdehydecellulose (preriodate oxidation) after gamma irradiation and in process of storage. It is shown the occurrence of three stages of immobilized enzyme inactivation in process of immobilization and storage. The velocity of inactivation did not depend on bound trypsin concentration. The ratio of proteolytic activity of samples before and after gamma irradiation was increased with the increase of immobilized to carrier enzyme concentration and was not change (in range of experiment error) in process of storage. The results were compared with that of crystalline trypsin.

Study of the photochemical immobilization of alkaline proteinase and chymotrypsin on the solid phase of O-hydroxyethylcellulose

Stability of the photochemically immobilized alkaline proteinase (E.C. 3.4.21.14) and chymotrypsin (E.C. 3.4.21.1.) onto the gel of O-hydroxyethylcellulose has been studied. For the purpose of immobilization the photochemical generation of nitrene radicals caused by the photolysis of an azido group of bifunctional 4,4'-bis-azidostilbene-2,2'-disodium-sulphate and the newly synthetized O-(3-azidophthaloyl)-O-hydroxyethylcellulose have been employed. The immobilized alkaline proteinase demonstrated a decreased ability of denaturation and an increased laboratory stability.

Matrix entrapment of glucose oxidase by gamma irradiation

In this study, matrix entrapment of the enzyme glucose oxidase was achieved through gamma irradiation of monomers N-vinyl pyrrolidone, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and their mixture. To test the effect of radiation on entrapment efficiency, retention of activities and properties of the system, duration and temperature were varied. The reusability of the resultant products was tested. It was generally found that inclusion of the hydrophilic monomer N-vinyl pyrrolidone into the matrix increased the water content, entrapment efficiency and enzyme activity. gamma irradiation did not have a detrimental effect on the activity of pure enzyme when exposure was at -196 degrees C, but this radioresistance was less at higher temperatures. Infrared spectroscopy indicated that there was no chemical binding between the matrix and the enzyme. Repeated use studies revealed a gradual loss of activity in all of the samples tested for 10 runs.

[The action of gamma irradiation on trypsin immobilized on a modified polypropylene textile material]

In studying the proteolytic activity and ESR spectra of gamma-irradiated samples of trypsin immobilized at an inoculated copolymer of polypropylene with polyacrylic acid it was established that the carrier of a modified polypropylene increases the radioresistance of trypsin immobilized on it.

[Transformation of free radicals of gamma-irradiated enzymes during long-term storage]

The ESR method was used to study free radical processes occurring in gamma-irradiated enzymes upon their long-term storage (up to 4 years) both at room temperature and at 4 degrees C. Simultaneously, studied was the biological activity of gamma-irradiated enzymes subjected to a long-term storage. The immobilization of enzymes on dialdehyde cellulose or polycaproamine was shown to preserve their biological activity during the postirradiation storage.

[The action of gamma irradiation on terrilytin immobilized on cellulose-fiber materials]

The effect of gamma-radiation on terrilytin, a proteolytic enzyme immobilized on modified and nonmodified cellulose materials was studied by EPR. Dialdehyde cellulose and graft copolymer of cellulose and polyacrylic acid were used as the modified cellulose materials. Dependence of the native and immobilized terrilytin activity and the content of free radicals in the irradiated samples on the irradiation dose was observed. It was shown that immobilization of the enzyme led to increasing of its stability to the effect of the ionizing radiation. This was due to transfer of the free valency from terrilytin to the carrying polymer which prevented radiation and chemical destruction of the enzyme. The proteolytic activity of native terrilytin subjected to gamma-irradiation markedly decreased because of intramolecular and intermolecular interactions during reactions of the terrilytin free radicals, since in this case there was no polymer as an acceptor of the enzyme free valency.

Radiation-induced polymerization for the immobilization of penicillin acylase

The immobilization of Escherichia coli penicillin acylase (EC 3.5.1.11) was investigated by radiation-induced polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate at low temperature. A leak-proof composite that does not swell in water was obtained by adding the cross-linking agent trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate to the monomer-aqueous enzyme mixture. Penicillin acylase, which was immobilized with greater than 70% yield, possessed a higher Km value toward the substrate 6-nitro-3-phenylacetamidobenzoic acid than the free enzyme form (Km = 1.7 X 10(-5) and 1 X 10(-5) M, respectively). The structural stability of immobilized penicillin acylase, as assessed by heat, guanidinium chloride, and pH denaturation profiles, was very similar to that of the free-enzyme form, thus suggesting that penicillin acylase was entrapped in its native state into aqueous free spaces of the polymer matrix.

Radiation target analysis of glycoproteins

The radiation sensitivity of glycoproteins is shown to depend only on the protein portion of the molecule. An artificially created glycoprotein containing glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase observes this rule as well as natural enzymes and receptors containing from 2 to 50% carbohydrate. No exceptions have been found. Radiation damage to carbohydrates occurs close to the site of the primary ionization, with little spread of damage into attached polypeptides.

[Effect of gamma irradiation on immobilized trypsin]

The effect of ionizing radiation of 0.05-10 Mrad on trypsin immobilized on dialdehyde cellulose was being studied. After irradiation the activity of native trypsin decreases by 25%, as compared with the initial, while the activity of immobilized trypsin remains constant. Before immobilization cellulose undergoes special pretreatment that leads to a decrease in the initial contamination. Some samples of modified cellulose were contaminated by staphylococcus culture (200,000 microbes per 0.2 g) and then exposed to irradiation of 0.05-0.4 Mrad. A distinct correlation between the irradiation dose (0.05-0.4 Mrad) and contamination of the object was registered.

Immobilization of microbial cells containing NAD-kinase

Microbial cells having NAD-kinase activity, Brevibacterium ammoniagenes, were immobilized by the radiation-copolymerization method under low temperature with the activity recovery of more than 80%. Compared to the native microbial cells the immobilized cells were more stable against heat and pH change. The immobilized cells were subjected to the 5 hr reaction repeatedly 20 times without any activity loss.

Enzyme immobilization by radiation-induced polymerization of hydrophobic glass-forming monomers at low temperatures

Enzyme immobilization was studied by means of radiation-induced polymerization of hydrophobic glass-forming monomers at low temperatures. The polymerized hydrophobic composite was generally obtained in microspheric form. Enzymatic activity showed little decrease with repeated use in these systems. The particle size of the microsphere increased with increasing monomer concentration, and activity yield had a maximum at an optimum monomer concentration. Immobilization by copolymerization of hydrophilic and hydrophobic comonomers was also investigated and a maximum activity yield was found at a certain monomer concentration. A model scheme for immobilization at low temperatures was proposed and discussed.

Enzyme immobilization by radiation-induced polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate at low temperatures

Enzyme immobilization by radiation-induced polymerization of hydrophilic glass-forming monomers, such as 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, was studied. Enzyme radiation damage could be sufficiently retarded at low temperatures. The immobilized enzyme activity yield was markedly higher at low temperature than at higher temperature polymerization. At low temperatures the polymerized composite had a porous structure owing to ice crystallization which depends on the monomer concentration. It was deduced that the enzyme was partially trapped on the polymer surface, partially isolated in the pore, and partially occluded inside the polymer matrix. A decrease in activity caused by enzyme leakage was observed with repeated use in enzyme reactions where the composites had a large porosity. The activity yield showed a maximum at certain optimum porosities, i.e., at optimum monomer concentrations. Continuous enzyme reaction was preferably carried out using immobilized enzyme columns.

Immobilization of Streptomyces phaerochromogenes by radiation-induced polymerization of glass-forming monomers

Immobilization of Streptomyces phaerochromogenes was studied by radiation-induced polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate at low temperatures. Radiation damage of the enzyme could be avoided by choosing irradiation at low temperatures. The enzymatic activity of immobilized cells increased remarkably with a decrease in the irradiation temperature of about -24 degrees C. In constrast to the case of cell-free enzyme immobilization, the most characteristic case was than in these immobilized cells, the enzymatic activity did not decrease with repeated use even in the composite obtained at much lower monomer concentrations. Another characteristic of immobilized cells was the increase in enzymatic activity in the initial stage of repeated use, which could be attributed to the swelling effect of the polymer matrix, thereby increasing the enzymatic activity of whole cells.