Purified penicillin acylase performance in a stabilized ultrafiltration membrane reactor

Abstract

A new simplified technique is discussed for quantitative penicillin acylase extraction from mutant Escherichia coli cells which is based on freezing and thawing followed by an osmotic pressure shock. The purification steps are also briefly illustrated. Purified acylase was employed in an unstirred ultrafiltration membrane reactor. Different linear-chain soluble polymers were tested as potentially stabilizing macromolecules. Reference runs were performed both with homogeneous native enzyme when operating in the homogeneous phase and with the membrane reactor with one addition of other macromoleculars. Promising results were obtained in terms of enzyme stabilization, although considerable reduction in activity levels also occurred.