NOVEL APPLICATION OF POROUS AND CELLULAR MATERIALS FOR COVALENT IMMOBILIZATION OF PEPSIN

Pepsin was immobilized via covalent bonds on different carriers: a silica gel carrier, acrylic beads, and a cellulose-based carrier - Granocel. All carriers were functionalized through the presence of -OH, -COOH, -NH2, or glycidyl groups on their surfaces. Three different cross-linkers were used for activation thereof. The results showed that Granocel activated by glutaraldehyde or carbodiimide and silica gel activated by glutaraldehyde were suitable carriers for the expression of enzyme activity. The optimum pH range for the native enzyme was 2.5-3.5 and this range was extended to the value 6.5 in the case of enzyme immobilized on the silica gel carrier and on Granocel. The optimum temperature values for the native and immobilized enzyme were in the range 37-40 degrees C and 40-50 degrees C, respectively. The activity of the immobilized pepsin at different values of pH and temperature was higher in comparison with the activity of the free enzyme.