Catalytic activity of poly(acryloyl morpholine)-immobilized horseradish peroxidase in organic/aqueous solvent mixtures

Abstract

The immobilization of horseradish peroxidase by covalent coupling within an expanded poly(acryloyl morpholine) gel network is described. The activity of the immobilized horseradish peroxidase was compared with that of the native enzyme in aqueous buffer and in buffered mixtures of dimethyl-formamide/water, ethanediol/water, methanol/water and tetrahydrofuran/water of varying solvent ratios at pH 6.1. On increasing the organic solvent concentration in the substrate solution, active immobilized enzyme retained its activity much better than an equivalent amount of the native enzyme. The oxidation of ferrocene (water-insoluble) and ferrocene derivatives to the corresponding ferricinium ions, was accomplished efficiently by the immobilized enzyme in buffered 50% methanol/water solution. The immobilized enzyme exhibited superior resistance to thermal denaturation.