Strategies for Stabilization of Enzymes in Organic Solvents

Purification and immobilization of the recombinant Brassica oleracea Chlorophyllase 1 (BoCLH1) on DIAION®CR11 as potential biocatalyst for the production of chlorophyllide and phytol

Recombinant Brassica oleracea chlorophyllase 1 (BoCLH1) with a protein molecular weight of 38.63 kDa was successfully expressed in E. coli and could catalyze chlorophyll (Chl) hydrolysis to chlorophyllide and phytol in vitro. In this study, we used DIAION^®CR11, a highly porous cross-linked polystyrene divinylbenzene-based metal chelator, for purifying and immobilizing the poly (His)-tagged enzyme. The Cu(II) showed the highest protein adsorption (9.2 ± 0.43 mg/g gel) and enzyme activity (46.3 ± 3.14 U/g gel) for the immobilization of the poly (His)-tagged recombinant BoCLH1 compared with other metal chelators. Biochemical analysis of the immobilized enzyme showed higher chlorophyllase activity for Chl a hydrolysis in a weak base environment (pH 8.0), and activity above 70% was in a high-temperature environment, compared with the free enzyme. In addition, compared with free BoCLH1, the enzyme half-life (t_1/2) of the immobilized BoCLH1 increased from 25.42 to 54.35 min (approximately two-fold) at 60 °C. The immobilized enzyme retained a residual activity of approximately 60% after 17 cycles in a repeated-batch operation. Therefore, DIAION^®CR11Cu(II)-immobilized recombinant BoCLH1 can be repeatedly used to lower the cost and is potentially useful for the industrial production of chlorophyllide and phytol.

Enhanced thermal stability and pH behavior of glucose oxidase on electrostatic interaction with polyethylenimine

Electrostatic interactions, mediated by ionic-exchange, between polyethylenimine (PEI) and glucose oxidase (GOx) were used to form GOx-PEI macro-complex, which were evaluated for pH and thermal stability of GOx. Under the experimental conditions, the complex had a dominant GOx presence on its surface and a hydrodynamic diameter of 205 ± 16 nm. Activity was evaluated from 40 to 75 °C, and at pH from 2 to 12. GOx activity in complex was maintained up to 70 °C and it was lost at 75 °C. In contrast, free GOx showed a maximum activity at 50 °C, which was completely lost at 70 °C. This difference, observed by fluorescence analysis, was associated with the compact unfolded structure of GOx in the complex. This GOx stability was not observed under pH variations, and complex formation was only possible at pH ≥ 5 where enzymatic activity was diminished by the presence of PEI.

A biocatalytic approach towards sustainable furanic–aliphatic polyesters

A series of sustainable furanic–aliphatic polyesters and oligoesters is successfully producedvia Candida antarcticaLipase B-catalyzed polymerization of biobased dimethyl 2,5-furandicarboxylate with various (potentially) renewable aliphatic diols.

Robust enzyme–silica composites made from enzyme nanocapsules

Novel enzyme composites are synthesized first by in situ polymerization around enzymes and a subsequent sol–gel process. Both the polymer shell and the silica shell with desired functional moieties provide not only great enzyme protection but also a favorable microenvironment, resulting in significantly enhanced activity and stability.

Asymmetric synthesis of optically active methyl-2-benzamido-methyl-3-hydroxy-butyrate by robust short-chain alcohol dehydrogenases from Burkholderia gladioli

Specific short-chain alcohol dehydrogenases were discovered and used in the dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation of methyl 2-benzamido-methyl-3-oxobutanoate with excellent stereo-selectivity.

MOF-templated rough, ultrathin inorganic microcapsules for enzyme immobilization

Enzyme-containing ultrathin titania microcapsules with rough surfaces were prepared by using MOF as a hard template to mediate the hierarchical structures of the microcapsule shell.

Reactivation of lipases by the unfolding and refolding of covalently immobilized biocatalysts

Lipases immobilized on octyl–glyoxyl agarose may be partially reactivated by unfolding/refolding strategies.

A new fluorescence and colorimetric sensor for highly selective and sensitive detection of glucose in 100% water

A new naphthalimide derivative containing hexanoic acid and boronate groups was designed and synthesized.

Enhancement of thermal and pH stability of an alkaline metalloprotease by nano-hydroxyapatite and its potential applications

Protease stabilization using nanotechnology.

Sustainable synthesis of N-acetyllactosamine using an immobilized β-galactosidase on a tailor made porous polymer

An efficient enzymatic synthesis of N-acetyllactosamine has been developed in biosolvents, mediated by the action of an immobilized β-galactosidase on a tailor made porous polymer.

Stabilizing effects of cations on lipases depend on the immobilization protocol

The effect of an additive on enzyme stability depends on the immobilization strategy.

Robust enzyme design: bioinformatic tools for improved protein stability

The ability of proteins and enzymes to maintain a functionally active conformation under adverse environmental conditions is an important feature of biocatalysts, vaccines, and biopharmaceutical proteins. From an evolutionary perspective, robust stability of proteins improves their biological fitness and allows for further optimization. Viewed from an industrial perspective, enzyme stability is crucial for the practical application of enzymes under the required reaction conditions. In this review, we analyze bioinformatic-driven strategies that are used to predict structural changes that can be applied to wild type proteins in order to produce more stable variants. The most commonly employed techniques can be classified into stochastic approaches, empirical or systematic rational design strategies, and design of chimeric proteins. We conclude that bioinformatic analysis can be efficiently used to study large protein superfamilies systematically as well as to predict particular structural changes which increase enzyme stability. Evolution has created a diversity of protein properties that are encoded in genomic sequences and structural data. Bioinformatics has the power to uncover this evolutionary code and provide a reproducible selection of hotspots - key residues to be mutated in order to produce more stable and functionally diverse proteins and enzymes. Further development of systematic bioinformatic procedures is needed to organize and analyze sequences and structures of proteins within large superfamilies and to link them to function, as well as to provide knowledge-based predictions for experimental evaluation.

Bacillus subtilis spore display of laccase for evolution under extreme conditions of high concentrations of organic solvent

Protein libraries were displayed on the spore coat of Bacillus subtilis, and this method was demonstrated as a tool for directed evolution under extreme conditions. Escherichia coli, yeast, and phage display suffer from protein folding, and viability issues. On the other hand, spores avoid folding concerns by the natural sporulation process, and they remain viable under harsh chemical and physical environments. The naturally occurring B. subtilis spore coat protein, CotA, was evolved for improved activity under conditions of high organic solvent concentrations. CotA is a laccase, which is a copper-containing oxidase enzyme. A CotA library was expressed on the spore coat, and ∼ 3000 clones were screened at 60% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). A Thr480Ala variant (Thr480Ala-CotA) was identified that was 2.38-fold more active than the wild-type CotA. In addition, Thr480Ala-CotA was more active with different concentrations of DMSO ranging from 0 to 70%. The mutant was also found to be more active compared with the wild-type CotA in different concentrations of methanol, ethanol, and acetonitrile.

Optimized preparation and characterization of CLEA-lipase from cocoa pod husk

Cross-linked enzyme aggregate (CLEA) is easily prepared from crude enzyme and has many advantages to the environment and it is considered as an economic method in the context of industrial biocatalysis compared to free enzyme. In this work, a highly active and stable CLEA-lipase from cocoa pod husk (CPH) which is a by-product after removal of cocoa beans, were assayed for their hydrolytic activity and characterized under the optimum condition successfully. Face centered central composite design (FCCCD) under response surface methodology (RSM) was used to get the optimal conditions of the three significant factors (concentration of ammonium sulfate, concentration of glutaraldehyde and concentration of additive) to achieve higher enzyme activity of CLEA. From 20 runs, the highest activity recorded was around 9.407U (83% recovered activity) under the condition of using 20% saturated ammonium sulfate, 60mM glutaraldehyde as cross-linker and 0.17mM bovine serum albumin as feeder. Moreover, the optimal reaction temperature and pH value in enzymatic reaction for both crude enzyme and immobilized were found to be 45°C at pH 8 and 60°C at pH 8.2, respectively. A systematic study of the stability of CLEA and crude enzyme was taken with regards to temperature (25-60°C) and pH (5-10) value and in both factors, CLEA-lipase showed more stability than free lipase. The Km value of CLEA was higher compared to free enzyme (0.55mM vs. 0.08mM). The CLEA retained more than 60% of the initial activity after six cycles of reuse compared to free enzyme. The high stability and recyclability of CLEA-lipase from CPH make it efficient for different industrial applications.

Improvement of chitosan derivatization for the immobilization of bacillus circulans β-galactosidase and its further application in galacto-oligosaccharide synthesis

Chitosan was derivatized by two methodologies to design a robust biocatalyst of immobilized Bacillus circulans β-galactosidase from a low-cost support for its further application in the synthesis of galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS). In the first one, chitosan was derivatized by cross-linking with glutaraldehyde and activated with epichlorohydrin; in the second one, cross-linking and activation were done with epichlorohydrin in a two-step process, favoring first support cross-linking and then support functionalization (C-EPI-EPI). Epoxy groups were hydrolyzed and oxidized, obtaining two supports activated with different aldehyde concentrations (100-250 μmol/g). The expressed activity and stability of the immobilized biocatalysts varied according to the derivatization methodology, showing that both the cross-linking agent and the activation degree are key parameters in the final biocatalyst performance. The best compromise between expressed activity and thermal stability was obtained using C-EPI-EPI with 200 μmol of aldehyde groups per gram of support. The immobilization conditions were optimized, obtaining a biocatalyst with 280 IU/g, immobilization yields in terms of activity and protein of 17.3 ± 0.4 and 61.5 ± 3.9%, respectively, and a high thermal stability, with a half-life of 449 times the value of the soluble enzyme. The biocatalyst was applied to the synthesis of GOS in repeated batch operation without affecting the product composition. Four successive batches were required for obtaining a cumulative specific productivity higher than the one obtained with the soluble enzyme.

Influence of the morphology of core-shell supports on the immobilization of lipase B from Candida antarctica

Core-shell polymer particles with different properties were produced through combined suspension-emulsion polymerizations and employed as supports for immobilization of lipase B from Candida antarctica. In order to evaluate how the morphology of the particles affects the immobilization parameters, empirical models were developed to describe the performance of the biocatalysts as a function of the specific area, volume of pores and average pore diameter of the supports. It was observed that the average pore sizes did not affect the enzymatic activities in the analyzed range of pore sizes. It was also observed that the increase of the specific area (and of the volume of pores) led to higher enzyme loadings, also leading to an increase in the esterification activity, as expected. However, when the specific area (and volume of pores) increased, the hydrolytic activity and the retention of hydrolytic activity of the biocatalysts decreased, indicating the existence of diffusional limitations for some hydrolytic reactions, probably because of the high reaction rates.

Trends in protein-based biosensor assemblies for drug screening and pharmaceutical kinetic studies

The selection of natural and chemical compounds for potential applications in new pharmaceutical formulations constitutes a time-consuming procedure in drug screening. To overcome this issue, new devices called biosensors, have already demonstrated their versatility and capacity for routine clinical diagnosis. Designed to perform analytical analysis for the detection of a particular analyte, biosensors based on the coupling of proteins to amperometric and optical devices have shown the appropriate selectivity, sensibility and accuracy. During the last years, the exponential demand for pharmacokinetic studies in the early phases of drug development, along with the need of lower molecular weight detection, have led to new biosensor structure materials with innovative immobilization strategies. The result has been the development of smaller, more reproducible biosensors with lower detection limits, and with a drastic reduction in the required sample volumes. Therefore in order to describe the main achievements in biosensor fields, the present review has the main aim of summarizing the essential strategies used to generate these specific devices, that can provide, under physiological conditions, a credible molecule profile and assess specific pharmacokinetic parameters.

Application of iron magnetic nanoparticles in protein immobilization

Due to their properties such as superparamagnetism, high surface area, large surface-to-volume ratio, easy separation under external magnetic fields, iron magnetic nanoparticles have attracted much attention in the past few decades. Various modification methods have been developed to produce biocompatible magnetic nanoparticles for protein immobilization. This review provides an updated and integrated focus on the fabrication and characterization of suitable magnetic iron nanoparticle-based nano-active materials for protein immobilization.

Reusable and mediator-free cholesterol biosensor based on cholesterol oxidase immobilized onto TGA-SAM modified smart bio-chips

A reusable and mediator-free cholesterol biosensor based on cholesterol oxidase (ChOx) was fabricated based on self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of thioglycolic acid (TGA) (covalent enzyme immobilization by dropping method) using bio-chips. Cholesterol was detected with modified bio-chip (Gold/Thioglycolic-acid/Cholesterol-oxidase i.e., Au/TGA/ChOx) by reliable cyclic voltammetric (CV) technique at room conditions. The Au/TGA/ChOx modified bio-chip sensor demonstrates good linearity (1.0 nM to 1.0 mM; R = 0.9935), low-detection limit (∼0.42 nM, SNR∼3), and higher sensitivity (∼74.3 µAµM⁻¹cm⁻²), lowest-small sample volume (50.0 μL), good stability, and reproducibility. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first statement with a very high sensitivity, low-detection limit, and low-sample volumes are required for cholesterol biosensor using Au/TGA/ChOx-chips assembly. The result of this facile approach was investigated for the biomedical applications for real samples at room conditions with significant assembly (Au/TGA/ChOx) towards the development of selected cholesterol biosensors, which can offer analytical access to a large group of enzymes for wide range of biomedical applications in health-care fields.

Modification of PEGylated enzyme with glutaraldehyde can enhance stability while avoiding intermolecular crosslinking

We demonstrate an enzyme stabilization approach whereby a model enzyme is PEGylated, followed by controlled chemical modification with glutaraldehyde. Using this stabilization strategy, size increases and aggregation due to intermolecular crosslinking are avoided. Immediately following synthesis, the PEGylated enzyme with and without glutaraldehyde modification possessed specific activities of 372.9 ± 20.68 U/mg and 373.9 ± 15.14 U/mg, respectively (vs. 317.7 ± 19.31 U/mg for the native enzyme). The glutaraldehyde-modified PEGylated enzyme retains 73% original activity after 4 weeks at 37 °C (vs. 2% retention for control).

Optimized production of vanillin from green vanilla pods by enzyme-assisted extraction combined with pre-freezing and thawing

Production of vanillin from natural green vanilla pods was carried out by enzyme-assisted extraction combined with pre-freezing and thawing. In the first step the green vanilla pods were pre-frozen and then thawed to destroy cellular compartmentation. In the second step pectinase from Aspergillus niger was used to hydrolyze the pectin between the glucovanillin substrate and β-glucosidase. Four main variables, including enzyme amount, reaction temperature, time and pH, which were of significance for the vanillin content were studied and a central composite design (CCD) based on the results of a single-factor tests was used. Response surface methodology based on CCD was employed to optimize the combination of enzyme amount, reaction temperature, time, and pH for maximum vanillin production. This resulted in the optimal condition in regards of the enzyme amount, reaction temperature, time, and pH at 84.2 mg, 49.5 °C, 7.1 h, and 4.2, respectively. Under the optimal condition, the experimental yield of vanillin was 4.63% ± 0.11% (dwb), which was in good agreement with the value predicted by the model. Compared to the traditional curing process (1.98%) and viscozyme extract (2.36%), the optimized method for the vanillin production significantly increased the yield by 133.85% and 96%, respectively.

Pectin cross-linked enzyme aggregates (pectin-CLEAs) of glucoamylase

CLEAs of glucoamylase were prepared using pectin as non-toxic and macromolecular cross-linker which showed improved thermal stability and good reusability.

Enzyme immobilization in biosensor constructions: self-assembled monolayers of calixarenes containing thiols

Herein, an amperometric glucose oxidase (GOx) biosensor is presented using calixarenes as an immobilization matrix of the biomolecule.

Lipase catalyzed synthesis of 3,3′-(arylmethylene)bis(2-hydroxynaphthalene-1,4-dione)

Synthesis of 3,3′-(arylmethylene)bis(2-hydroxynaphthalene-1,4-dione) (3) catalyzed by lipase.

Penicillium expansum lipase-coated magnetic Fe3O4–polymer hybrid hollow nanoparticles: a highly recoverable and magnetically separable catalyst for the synthesis of 1,3-dibutylurea

Amino-epoxy supports were innovatively imported onto magnetic nanoparticles for immobilizing enzyme which represents a novel class of heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of 1,3-dibutylurea from ethylene carbonate and butylamine.

Immobilization of urease on magnetic nanoparticles coated by polysiloxane layers bearing thiol- or thiol- and alkyl-functions

An optimized strategy for production of a highly active magnetic formulation of urease has been elaborated via systematic studies of the enzyme immobilization on magnetite nanoparticles coated by functional siloxane layers.

Computational tools for designing and engineering enzymes

Protein engineering strategies aimed at constructing enzymes with novel or improved activities, specificities, and stabilities greatly benefit from in silico methods. Computational methods can be principally grouped into three main categories: bioinformatics; molecular modelling; and de novo design. Particularly de novo protein design is experiencing rapid development, resulting in more robust and reliable predictions. A recent trend in the field is to combine several computational approaches in an interactive manner and to complement them with structural analysis and directed evolution. A detailed investigation of designed catalysts provides valuable information on the structural basis of molecular recognition, biochemical catalysis, and natural protein evolution.