Production of oligoglucuronans using a monolithic enzymatic microreactor

A glucuronan lyase (EC 4.2.2.14) was immobilized on a monolithic Convective Interaction Media (CIM (R)) disk. The immobilization yield was equal to 29% of the initial activity and 35% of the initial protein amount. Degradations of three glucuronans with various C-acetylation degrees were investigated and compared with degradations using free enzyme. The immobilized glucuronan lyase was inhibited by the O-acetylation degree like the free enzyme. H-1 NMR analyses were used to study the O-acetylation degree of oligoglucuronans and demonstrated that the average degrees of polymerization were inclusive between 4 and 13 after 24 h of degradation. This first immobilization of a glucuronan lyase constitutes a new tool to produce oligoglucuronans. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.