[Effect of an electromagnetic field on subtilisin from Bacillus subtilis 316 m]

Ukrainskii Biokhimicheskii Zhurnal (1978)
|January 1, 1993
PubMed

Insights

Electromagnetic fields enhance subtilisin enzyme activity from Bacillus subtilis by up to 60%. This activation is stable for a month and linked to molecular conformational changes.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Enzyme Kinetics

Background:

  • Subtilisin is a key protease produced by Bacillus subtilis.
  • Enzyme activity modulation is crucial for biotechnological applications.
  • Understanding enzyme responses to physical stimuli like electromagnetic fields is an emerging area.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of electromagnetic fields (EMF) on the proteolytic activity of subtilisin from Bacillus subtilis strain 316 M.
  • To determine the stability and underlying mechanisms of EMF-induced enzyme activation.

Main Methods:

  • Exposure of Bacillus subtilis strain 316 M subtilisin preparation to electromagnetic fields for 60-100 minutes.
  • Measurement of proteolytic activity before and after EMF treatment.
  • Assessment of enzyme stability at +4 degrees C for one month.
  • Analysis of isoelectric point (pI) changes to infer conformational modifications.

Main Results:

  • A significant increase in proteolytic activity (30-60%) was observed after EMF treatment.
  • The enhanced activity remained stable for at least one month when stored at +4 degrees C.
  • EMF exposure led to a decrease in the enzyme's isoelectric point (pI) from 11.4 to 9.2.
  • This pI shift suggests conformational changes in the subtilisin enzyme molecule.

Conclusions:

  • Electromagnetic fields can effectively activate subtilisin from Bacillus subtilis.
  • The activation is a stable phenomenon with potential for practical applications.
  • Conformational alterations, indicated by pI reduction, are the likely mechanism behind EMF-induced enzyme enhancement.

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