Highly efficient immobilization of glycosylated enzymes into polyurethane foams

Laccase-mediated transformations of endocrine disrupting chemicals abolish binding affinities to estrogen receptors and their estrogenic activity in zebrafish

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are known to mainly affect aquatic organisms, producing negative effects in aquaculture. Transformation of the estrogenic compounds 17β-estradiol (E2), bisphenol-A (BPA), nonylphenol (NP), and triclosan (TCS) by laccase of Coriolopsis gallica was studied. Laccase is able to efficiently transform them into polymers. The estrogenic activity of the EDCs and their laccase transformation products was evaluated in vitro as their affinity for the human estrogen receptor alpha (hERα) and for the ligand binding domain of zebrafish (Danio rerio) estrogen receptor alpha (zfERαLBD). E2, BPA, NP, and TCS showed higher affinity for the zfERαLBD than for hERα. After laccase treatment, no affinity was found, except a marginal affinity of E2 products for the zfERαLBD. Endocrine disruption studies in vivo on zebrafish were performed using the induction of vitellogenin 1 as a biomarker (VTG1 mRNA levels). The use of enzymatic bioreactors, containing immobilized laccase, efficiently eliminates the endocrine activity of BPA and TCS, and significantly reduces the effects of E2. The potential use of enzymatic reactors to eliminate the endocrine activity of EDCs in supply water for aquaculture is discussed.

Novel interface-binding chloroperoxidase for interfacial epoxidation of styrene

A unique interface-binding chloroperoxidase (CPO) was developed and examined for interfacial biocatalysis. Native CPO was conjugated with polystyrene (PS) to form a surfactant-like structure that self assembled at oil-water interfaces. While enantioselectivity of the enzyme was maintained, the interfacial assembly of the enzyme improved its overall catalytic efficiency as compared to that observed with the enzyme contained in the bulk aqueous phase. The PS conjugated CPO (PS-CPO) showed a 2.5-fold enhancement of enzyme productivity versus native CPO under batch reaction conditions for the epoxidation of styrene, whereas a 25-fold improvement was realized in a continuous feeding reaction to reach a productivity of 10 micromol h-1 mg protein-1. The interface-binding enzyme also demonstrated several other advantages such as suppressing unwanted side reactions including the hydrolysis of styrene epoxide products, stabilizing the enzyme by limiting its exposure to both the oxidant H2O2 and epoxide products, and alleviating the deactivating effect of interfacial stress on enzymes by functioning as a surfactant.

β-Galactosidase from Penicillium canescens. Properties and immobilization

β-galactosidase from Penicillium canescens was immobilized on chitosan, sepharose-4B, foamable polyurethane and some other carriers. The highest yield of immobilization (up to 98%) was obtained by using chitosan as a carrier. The optimum pH and temperature were not significantly altered by immobilization. High stability of immobilized β-galactosidase during storage was demonstrated. Efficient lactose saccharification (over 90%) in whey was achieved by using immobilized β-galactosidase.

Crude aminoacylase fromaspergillus sp. is a mixture of hydrolases

A range of cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs) was prepared from commercially available aminoacylase I. Results from three test reactions showed that aminoacylase does not possess aminolysis or alcoholysis activity, both previously ascribed to this enzyme. This result was confirmed using aminoacylase purified by chromatographic techniques, which leads us to conclude that the previously observed acylations of esters and amines is due to other enzymes present as impurities in the crude aminoacylase I.

Cross-linked crystals of chloroperoxidase

Chloroperoxidase from Caldariomyces fumago was crystallized. The crystals were modified with several cross-linkers, but only glurataldehyde was able to produce catalytically active and insoluble crystals. Unlike other immobilized chloroperoxidase preparations, these catalytic crystals are more thermostable than the unmodified soluble enzyme. The enhanced stability is probably due to the structure conservation in the crystalline matrix. In addition, non-cross-linked chloroperoxidase crystals retained more activity than the soluble enzyme after incubation in an organic solvent with low water content. Although the cross-linked crystals were catalytically active, they showed lower specific activity than the soluble enzyme. This low activity may be due to non-specific reactions between the cross-linker and essential residues for catalysis. Alternative cross-linking strategies are discussed.