Reversible denaturation of carbonic anhydrase provides a method for its adsorptive immobilization

Palmityl-substituted sepharose 4B has been used for adsorptive immobilization of heat-denatured carbonic anhydrase. The native form of this enzyme does not show any affinity for binding to this hydrophobic support. However, through the process of denaturation-renaturation performed by heating and subsequent cooling of an enzyme solution in the presence of the matrix, it was possible to obtain a catalytically active immobilized preparation, which was used successfully in continuous catalytic transformations. It is suggested that this simple procedure may provide a convenient method of immobilization for proteins, which are not normally adsorbed on hydrophobic supports.