Modification of lipases with poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(oxyethylene) detergents and their catalytic activities in organic solvents

Abstract

The α-chymotrypsin-poly(ethylene glycol) complex, which was prepared by lyophilizing an aqueous solution, was found to have high catalytic activity in organic media even when the molar ratio of polymer/enzyme in its preparation stage is unity. In this study, we obtained freeze-dried complexes of lipases and poly(ethylene glycol) or poly(oxyethylene) detergents including newly synthesized gemini-type detergents, and their transesterification activity in organic solvents was evaluated. The freeze-dried lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia prepared by using each modifier showed enhanced transesterification activity, exhibiting a similar dependence on the concentration of the modifier in the preparation stage to that of the α-chymotrypsin-poly(ethylene glycol) complex; in contrasts, the one from Candida rugosa did not do so.