Preparation and properties of thermoresponsive bioconjugates of trypsin

Covalent attachment of enzymes and other proteins to the smart polymer, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) [poly (NIPAAm)], has been widely used as a method for the preparation of thermosensitive protein conjugates. In the present study, reversible soluble-insoluble polymer-enzyme conjugates were prepared by conjugating a copolymer of NIPAAm with 5-mol % of 6-acrylaminohexanoic acid to trypsin by the carbodiimide-NHS (N-hydroxysuccinimide) coupling method. Four bioconjugates with different units of enzyme coupled to the matrix were prepared. Increased enzymatic activity in terms of high effectiveness factor (in the range of 3-5) was found in the conjugates. Kinetic parameters for the immobilized and free enzyme were determined. The Vmax/Km value of the enzyme significantly increased on immobilization by the factors in the range of 12-28. The immobilized enzyme also showed stability to autolysis at 50 degrees C.