Stabilization and purification of the secondary metabolism specific enzyme, m-hydroxybenzylalcohol dehydrogenase

m-Hydroxybenzylalcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.97), a secondary metabolism associated protein from stationary phase cultures of Penicillium urticae, was stabilized in crude extracts prior to purification. Stabilization studies resulted in the formulation of an optimal cell breakage and purification buffer. This buffer increased the enzyme's in vitro half-life at 30 degrees C from 14 to over 800 min which greatly aided purification and enhanced yields. Purification was achieved by salt fractionation, size-exclusion chromatography, affinity chromatography, and ion-exchange chromatography. The 1200-fold purified protein gave only one major band by sodium dodecyl sulphate - polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.