Reversible immobilization of cephalosporin C acylase on epoxy supports coated with polyethyleneimine

Abstract

In this study, a recombinant cephalosporin C acylase (CCA) was covalently or physically immobilized on an epoxy-activated support LX1000-EPC4 (EP) or its derivatives, EP-polyethyleneimine (EP-PEI) and EP-ethylenediamine (EP-EDA) with cationic groups on the surface. Zeta potential was used as a tool for activated carrier analysis and immobilization analysis. The EP-PEI (the cationic polymer PEI grafted support) showed higher zeta potential than EP-EDA (the small diamine EDA modified support) and EP support. Among these three supports, immobilization of CCA on EP-PEI had the highest specific activity according to the range of enzyme loadings. Michaelis constant Km values of EP-PEI-CCA and EP-EDA-CCA were 22 mM and 30 mM, respectively, which were lower than that of the free enzyme (43 mM), suggesting that the support’s zeta potential is related to the affinity of the enzyme for the substrate. The enzyme immobilized on EP-PEI showed a much higher thermal stability (stabilization factor of 32-fold compared with the free enzyme) than that on the EP-EDA (stabilization factor of 5.5-fold) and EP supports (stabilization factor of 1.7-fold). The adsorption of CCA on EP-PEI support was very strong and reversible. The CCA could be thoroughly desorbed using a high concentration of NaCl (e.g., 2 M) at low pH value (pH 3.0). The regenerated EP-PEI support could then be reused for enzyme immobilization.