Development of tailor-made glycidyl methacrylate-divinyl benzene copolymer for immobilization of D-amino acid oxidase from Aspergillus species strain 020 and its application in the bioconversion of cephalosporin C.

A tailor-made glycidyl methacrylate-divinyl benzene (GMA-DVB) copolymer PC-3 was evolved by studying the effect of synthesis variables on binding and expression of D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) from Aspergillus species strain 020. Almost quantitative binding (100%) and a high yield of immobilization per unit of enzyme loaded was achieved. Optimum pH, optimum temperature and K(m)95% was achieved by using 3% (w/v) solution of ceph C, 48 U of DAAO per g of ceph C, keeping dissolved oxygen level above 50%, maintaining the pH between 7.6 and 7.8 and temperature at 24 degrees C. The immobilized DAAO was used for 60 cycles in a stirred tank reactor.

Role of physical properties of glycidyl methacrylate- pentaerythritol triacrylate copolymers on immobilization of milk clotting protease from aspergillus niger MC4

The effect of cross-link density and amount of porogen on physical properties of the glycidyl methacrylate-pentaerythritol triacrylate (GMA-PETA) copolymer and intern on the immobilization of milk clotting protease from Aspergillus niger MC4 was studied. Almost quantitative expression of the milk clotting protease was achieved with copolymer of 251% cross-link density and generated with 65.4 mL of cyclohexanol as porogen. The pH of 4.0 and 18 h period were the best conditions for binding the milk clotting protease onto the polymer. The immobilized milk clotting protease prepared had an activity of 6000 units/g. The optimum pH and temperature ranges for both soluble and immobilized milk clotting protease preparations were pH 5.6-5.8 and 55-60 degreesC, respectively. Immobilized milk clotting protease was more stable than the soluble enzyme; the half-lives at pH 4.0 and 37 degreesC were 160 and 60 days, respectively. At pH 5.8 and 37 degreesC, the parameters favorable for milk clotting, the immobilized enzyme preparation did not exhibit any aspartic protease activity.

Continuous production of cheese by immobilized milk-clotting protease from aspergillus niger MC4

Milk clotting protease from Aspergillus niger MC4 immobilized on glycidyl methacrylate-pentaerythritol triacrylate copolymer GP4 was used for continuous production of cheese using a packed bed reactor. Factors affecting the hydrolysis of kappa-casein and clot formation were studied. Acidified milk (pH 5.8) preincubated at 37 degreesC when passed through the column at a flow rate of 80 mL/min attained the required degree of hydrolysis of kappa-casein for the coagulation in a single pass. Fortification of the hydrolyzed milk with CaCl2 and FeCl3 to a final concentration of 0.01 and 0.02 M, respectively, and incubation of fortified milk at 60 degreesC for 2 h resulted in a hard cake of cheese. The yield of raw cheese was 28 g/100 mL of milk. The immobilized milk-clotting protease was used for 60 days (8 h/day) without any loss in productivity.