Immobilization of proteins on organic polymer beads

A new method is described for the immobilization of biologically active proteins onto several types of organic polymer beads. First, the soluble protein is modified by reaction with an excess of a hydrophobic imidoester, for example methyl 4-phenyl-butyrimidate, at ca. pH 9 and 0 degrees . Excess imidoester and side products resulting from imidoester hydrolysis are separated from the hydrophobic protein derivative by exclusion chromatography or dialysis. A suspension of polymer beads (e.g. Amberlite XAD-7) is then added to a solution of the modified protein at room temperature or below and stirred gently for 1-2 h. The polymer beads are allowed to settle, separated from the solution by decantation or filtration, washed, and resuspended in an appropriate buffer. Quantitative adsorption of protein to the polymer beads is observed under such conditions. The synthesis of seven hydrophobic imidoesters and their use for the immobilization of trypsin onto several types of porous polymer beads is described. The immobilizations of trypsin, yeast alcohol dehydrogenase, and E. coli asparaginase by this procedure with high recoveries of catalytic activity, suggests that it will be applicable to a large number of biologically active proteins.