Immobilization in Alginate-Silicate Sol-Gel Matrix Protects β-Glucosidase Against Thermal and Chemical Denaturation

We have developed a novel immobilization medium by soaking enzyme-containing calcium alginate beads in a solution of tetramethoxy-ortho-silicate (TMOS) in hexane. Water-soluble alkyl siloxanes, resulting from the partial hydrolysis of TMOS at the hexane-water interface permeated the alginate gel, po...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inBio/Technology Vol. 13; no. 8; pp. 798 - 800
Main Authors Heichal-Segal, Ora, Rappoport, Sara, Braun, Sergei
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York Nature Publishing Group US 01.08.1995
Subjects
Agriculture
Bioinformatics
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedical Engineering/Biotechnology
Biomedicine
Biotechnology
Life Sciences
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ISSN0733-222X
1546-1696
DOI10.1038/nbt0895-798

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Summary:We have developed a novel immobilization medium by soaking enzyme-containing calcium alginate beads in a solution of tetramethoxy-ortho-silicate (TMOS) in hexane. Water-soluble alkyl siloxanes, resulting from the partial hydrolysis of TMOS at the hexane-water interface permeated the alginate gel, polymerized and formed a colloid within the beads. Silicate-alginate beads were robust, and did not deform under pressure. The composite gel demonstrated the excellent protein retention and thermal stabilization properties typical of silicate sol-gel-immobilization, as well as protection against inactiva-tion by concentrated urea solutions. Immobilized β-glucosidase had complete operational stability at ambient temperature for at least several months.
ISSN:0733-222X
1546-1696
DOI:10.1038/nbt0895-798