Structural and functional stabilization of L-asparaginase via multisubunit immobilization onto highly activated supports.

A new protocol for the stabilization of the quaternary structure of multimeric enzymes has been attempted using as model enzyme (tetrameric) L-asparaginase from Escherichia coli. Such strategy is based upon multisubunit covalent immobilization of the enzyme onto activated supports (agarose-glutaraldehyde). Supports activated with different densities of reactive groups were used; the higher the density of groups, the higher the stabilization attained. However, because of the complexity of that enzyme, even the use of the highest densities of reactive groups was not enough to encompass all four subunits in the immobilization process. Therefore, a further chemical intersubunit cross-linking with aldehyde-dextran was pursued; these derivatives displayed a fully stabilized multimeric structure. In fact, boiling the modified enzyme derivative in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and beta-mercaptoethanol did not lead to release of any enzyme subunit into the medium. Such a derivative, prepared under optimal conditions, retained ca. 40% of the intrinsic activity of the free enzyme and was also functionally stabilized, with thermostabilization enhancements of ca. 3 orders of magnitude when compared with its soluble counterpart. This type of derivative may be appropriate for extracorporeal devices in the clinical treatment of acute leukemia and might thus bring about inherent advantages in that all subunits are covalently bound to the support, with a longer half-life and a virtually nil risk of subunit release into the circulating blood stream.

Hydrolysis of whey proteins by proteases extracted from Cynara cardunculus and immobilized onto highly activated supports.

Blends of cardosins A and B, enzymes present in aqueous extracts of the flowers of the thistle (Cynara cardunculus L.), have for long been used as rennets by the cheesemaking industry in the Iberian Peninsula. These dimeric proteases are present in the stigmae and stylets of said flowers, and are thought to play a role in sexual reproduction of the plant. In the present research effort, production of cardosin derivatives (starting from a crude extract), encompassing full stabilization of their dimeric structure, has been attempted via covalent, multi-subunit immobilization onto highly activated agarose-glutaraldehyde supports. Boiling such enzyme derivatives in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and beta-mercaptoethanol did not lead to leaching of enzyme, thus proving the effectiveness of the attachment procedure. Furthermore, derivatives prepared under optimal conditions presented ca. half the specific activity of the enzyme in soluble form, and were successfully employed at lab-scale trials to perform (selective) hydrolysis of alpha-lactalbumin, one of the major proteins in bovine whey.

Coimmobilization of L-asparaginase and glutamate dehydrogenase onto highly activated supports.

In the present research work, production of coimmobilized derivatives of L-asparaginase and glutamate dehydrogenase was attempted. Comparison of immobilization of each enzyme independently with coimmobilization of the two enzymes unfolded important advantages of the latter, namely a decrease in the induction period (time before the maximum reaction rate is virtually achieved) and an increase in the maximum reaction rate. The effectiveness of the independent enzyme derivatives was low; however, it was enhanced by three-fold when the enzymes were coimmobilized onto the same agarose-glutaraldehyde support. Each supporting agarose bead may in fact be viewed as a nano-reactor with in situ reaction and separation (i.e. elimination of the ammonia formed), with the nanoenvironment surrounding each enzyme molecule being essentially devoid of steric hindrance.

Lipase catalyzed modification of milkfat.

Decreasing consumption of high fat milk and dairy products is driving the dairy industry to seek other uses for increasing surplus of milkfat. Enzyme catalyzed modification of milkfat using lipases is receiving particular attention. This review examines lipase-mediated modification of milkfat. Especial attention is given to industrial applications of lipases for producing structured and modified milkfat for improved physical properties and digestibility, reduced caloric value, and flavor enhancement. Features associated with reactions such as hydrolysis, transesterification, alcoholysis and acidolysis are presented with emphasis on industrial feasibility, marketability and environmental concerns. Future prospects for enzyme catalyzed modification of milk fat are discussed.

Bioreactors with immobilized lipases: state of the art.

This review attempts to provide an updated compilation of studies reported in the literature pertaining to reactors containing lipases in immobilized forms, in a way that helps the reader direct a bibliographic search and develop an integrated perspective of the subject. Highlights are given to industrial applications of lipases (including control and economic considerations), as well as to methods of immobilization and configurations of reactors in which lipases are used. Features associated with immobilized lipase kinetics such as enzyme activities, adsorption properties, optimum operating conditions, and estimates of the lumped parameters in classical kinetic formulations (Michaelis-Menten model for enzyme action and first-order model for enzyme decay) are presented in the text in a systematic tabular form.

Adsorption of protein from several commercial lipase preparations onto a hollow-fiber membrane module.

Ten commercially available crude preparations of lipase from various microbial sources were adsorbed from aqueous buffers at several initial concentrations onto a bundle of hydrophobic hollow fibers made of poly(propylene) at pH 7.0 and 40 degrees C. The kinetics of adsorption were evaluated from measurements at various times of the protein content of the supernatant solution (using BSA as equivalent) in a well-mixed reservoir placed in series with the hollow fiber module. Preliminary tracer experiments have indicated that the module and the tank can be simulated as a system consisting of a plug flow reactor in series with a continuous stirred tank reactor. A mechanistic model based on the hydrodynamic assumptions associated with this system coupled with the postulation of two reversible first-order steps for the adsorption of protein was successfully fitted to the experimental data via nonlinear regression analysis. The statistical significance of the model was checked using tests for lack of fit. This work is useful in predicting the time period required to immobilize a (crude) lipase by adsorption onto a hydrophobic hollow fiber module, a configuration which has proved successful in the recent past for the performance of lipase-catalyzed reactions.

STADEERS: a software package for the statistical design of experiments pertaining to the estimation of parameters in rate expressions that describe enzyme-catalyzed processes.

This paper describes a computational algorithm (STADEERS--STAtistical Design of Experiments in Enzyme ReactorS) for the statistical design of biochemical engineering experiments. The type of experiment that qualifies for this package involves a batch reaction catalyzed by a soluble enzyme where the activity of the enzyme decays with time. Assuming that both the catalytic action and the deactivation of the enzyme obey known rate expressions, the present code is helpful in the process of obtaining estimates of the kinetic parameters by providing as output the times at which samples should be withdrawn from the reacting mixture. Starting D-optimal design is used as a basis for the statistical approach. This BASIC code is a powerful tool when fitting a rate expression to data because it increases the effectiveness of experimentation by helping the biochemical kineticist obtain data points with the largest possible informational content.