Native and immobilized preparations of penicillin acylase from Escherichia coli and Alcaligenes faecalis were studied using an active site titration technique. Knowledge of the number of active sites allowed the calculation of the average turnover rate of the enzyme in the various preparations and allowed us to quantify the contribution of irreversible inactivation of the enzyme to the loss of catalytic activity during the immobilization procedure. In most cases a loss of active sites as well as a decrease of catalytic activity per active site (turnover rate) was observed upon immobilization. Immobilization techniques affected the enzymes differently. The effect of increased loading of penicillin acylase on the average turnover rate was determined by active site titration to assess diffusion limitations in the carrier.
Penicillin acylase (EC 3.5.1.11) from Alcaligenes faecalis, immobilised as a cross-linked enzyme aggregate (CLEA), catalysed the synthesis of ampicillin in water-miscible organic solvents at low water concentrations. Below 4% water (v/v) no reaction was observed, showing the crucial role of water in maintaining the activity of penicillin acylase. The initial value of S/H was strongly affected by the nature of the solvent, but the effect of the water content was slight in the studied range of 4 to 15%. A reaction in acetonitrile containing 8% water afforded ampicillin in up to 86% yield.
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