Immobilization of enzymes masks their active site

Esterification of fatty acids by Penicillium crustosum lipase in a membrane reactor

BACKGROUND

This study investigated the performance of a membrane reactor system for esterification of oleic acid and butyric acid with ethanol by Penicillium crustosum lipase using polyethersulfone membranes with molecular weight cut-offs of 30, 60 and 100 kDa at pressures up to 200 kPa.

RESULTS

The confinement of lipase with 60 and 100 kDa membranes showed the best results. The esterification of butyric acid in the membrane reactor and with free lipase showed higher conversions than those obtained with oleic acid, since the system operated with oleic acid was more subject to fouling and thus could not be run for repeated cycles.

CONCLUSION

The confinement of lipase from P. crustosum in a membrane reactor was possible, resulting in the satisfactory conversion of butyric acid to ethyl butyrate with the possibility of reuse of the immobilized enzyme.

Immobilization of Mucor miehei Lipase onto Macroporous Aminated Polyethersulfone Membrane for Enzymatic Reactions

Immobilization of enzymes is one of the most promising methods in enzyme performance enhancement, including stability, recovery, and reusability. However, investigation of suitable solid support in enzyme immobilization is still a scientific challenge. Polyethersulfone (PES) and aminated PES (PES–NH₂) were successfully synthesized as novel materials for immobilization. Membranes with various pore sizes (from 10–600 nm) based on synthesized PES and PES–NH₂ polymers were successfully fabricated to be applied as bioreactors to increase the immobilized lipase performances. The influence of pore sizes, concentration of additives, and the functional groups that are attached on the PES backbone on enzyme loading and enzyme activity was studied. The largest enzyme loading was obtained by Mucor miehei lipase immobilized onto a PES–NH₂ membrane composed of 10% of PES–NH₂, 8% of dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and 5% of polyethylene glycol (PEG) (872.62 µg/cm²). Hydrolytic activity of the immobilized lipases indicated that the activities of biocatalysts are not significantly decreased by immobilization. From the reusability test, the lipase immobilized onto PES–NH₂ showed a better constancy than the lipase immobilized onto PES (the percent recovery of the activity of the lipases immobilized onto PES–NH₂ and PES are 97.16% and 95.37%, respectively), which indicates that this novel material has the potential to be developed as a bioreactor for enzymatic reactions.

The immobilization of glucose oxidase onto radio-frequency plasma-modified poly(etherurethaneurea)

Glucose oxidase was covalently immobilized onto a radio-frequency plasma-modified poly(etherurethaneurea). Thin (90-100 nm) plasma-polymerized N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone films were deposited onto poly(etherurethaneurea) films. Active sites for the immobilization were obtained via reduction with aqueous sodium borohydride and activation with 1-cyano-4-dimethylaminopyridinium tetrafluoroborate. Modified poly(etherurethaneurea) films were assayed for binding and activity of the immobilized glucose oxidase layer. The results of a modified radioimmunoassay and an 'immunochemical stain' indicated that washing in 900 ml of continuously stirred 2% sodium dodecyl sulfate, 2% Triton X-100, and 20 mM sodium phosphate, pH 7.0, for 24 h each at 4 degrees C was necessary to remove physically adsorbed glucose oxidase from the solid supports. An amperometric activity determination in 9 ml of well-stirred 20 mM sodium phosphate-0.1 M sodium chloride, pH 7.4, gave a qualitative demonstration of the activity of the immobilized enzyme on 18.75 cm2 of modified poly(etherurethaneurea) film. A colorometric activity determination using the coupled reaction with o-dianisidine and peroxidase indicated that glucose oxidase covalently immobilized on approximately 2.4 cm2 of modified poly(etherurethaneurea) film had an activity approximately equal to that of 13.4 nM glucose oxidase in 50 mM sodium acetate, pH 5.1, with a specific activity of approximately 32.0 U/mg at pH 5.1 and room temperature.