Effect of polyols on alpha-chymotrypsin thermostability: a mechanistic analysis of the enzyme stabilization

The influence of the synthetic substrate (N-acetyl-L-tyrosine ethyl ester) and the different polyols (ethylene glycol, glycerol, erythritol, xylitol and sorbitol) on the thermostability of alpha-chymotrypsin at 60 degrees C have been studied. The results obtained showed an important stabilizing effect in the presence of both additives. In order to describe the kinetics of enzyme stabilization, the experimental results were analyzed by a four-parameters deactivation model with excellent agreement. In all cases, alpha-chymotrypsin exhibited non-first-order deactivation kinetics, corresponding to a two-step unimolecular mechanism, where the main protective effect of polyols was observed in the first-step of the deactivation profile. Thus, the presence of polyols increased the level of activity stabilization (alpha 1), and decreased the first-order deactivation rate constant (k1). Additionally, the experimental results were analyzed as a function of both, the change in the standard free energy of denaturation (delta(delta Gzero)), and a protective effect, defined as the ratio of alpha-chymotrypsin half-lives (with and without polyols), showing in both cases a clear stabilizing effect of these polyhydroxylic cosolvents for the enzyme. The overall protective effect of polyols was also simultaneously related to their concentration and their water-activity depressing power.