Nanotechnology based activation-immobilization of psychrophilic pectate lyase: A novel approach towards enzyme stabilization and enhanced activity

• A nanomaterial PL (cold tolerant) system exhibited altered characteristics.
• HAp NP enhanced activity and stability of PL at 4 °C.
• Nanotube trapped PL (+NP) stability at thermal extremes (4 °C, 80 °C).
• Multiple trap-release cycles retained PL activity at the thermal extremes.
• Nanotube trapped PL (+NP) maintained activity following repeated freeze–thaw.

An immobilization technique (using nanotechnology) that imparts psychrostability and enhanced activity to a psychrophilic pectate lyase (PL) has been described here. Pectate lyase from a pyscrophile was supplemented with calcium hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (NP-PL) as a substitute for Ca, (the cationic activator of this enzyme) and entrapped in single walled nanotube (SWNT) based molecular self-assembly. The activity and stability of PL was enhanced both at temperatures as low as 4 °C and as high as 80 °C in presence of NP and SWNT. The enzyme could be repeatedly released and re-trapped (in SWNT based molecular self-assembly) while retaining significant activity. The immobilized PL (in SWNT based molecular self-assembly), retained its activity after repeated freezing and thawing. This unique capability of SWNT to activate and stabilize a cold active enzyme at temperatures much lower or higher than its optimal range may be utilized for processes that require bio-conversion at low temperatures while simultaneously allowing for shifts to higher temperature.

Immobilization of NP treated pectate lyase enzyme inside functionalized single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) at both high and low temperature (80/4 °C).Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide