Model of the regulation of activity of immobilized enzymes (amylases) in soil

The preservation of activity of extracellular enzymes in soil is presently associated with their immobilization on organic or inorganic carriers. Enzyme immobilization results, however, in a significant decrease in enzymatic activity. In the present work, the mechanism responsible for promotion of the catalytic activity was revealed, as well as the favorable effect of low-molecular alkylhydrozybenzenes of the class of alkylresorcinols, which are common in soil organic matter, on stability of immobilized enzymes (exemplified by amylases) by their post-translational modification. Optimal conditions (enzyme to sorbent ratio, pH optimum, CaCl₂ concentration, and sorption time) for amylase sorption on a biological sorbent (yeast cell walls) were determined and decreased activity of the immobilized enzyme compared to its dissolved state was confirmed. Alkylresorcinols (C₇AHB) at concentrations of 1.6 to 80 mM were found to cause an increase of amylase activity both in the case of already sorbed enzymes (by 30%) and in the case of a free dissolved enzyme with its subsequent immobilization (by 50–60%). In both cases, the optimal C₇AHB concentration was 16 mM. Amylase stability was determined for C7AHB-modified and unmodified enzymes immobilized on the biological sorbent after two cycles of freezing (–20°C) and thawing (4°C). Inverse dependence was revealed between increasing stability of C₇AHB-modified enzymes and an increase in their activity, as well as higher stability of immobilized modified amylases than of the dissolved modified enzyme. Investigation of the effect of C₇HOB-modification in the preservation of activity in immobilized amylases after four freeze–thaw cycles revealed: (1) better preservation of activity by the modified immobilized enzymes compared to immobilized ones; (2) differences in the dynamics of activity loss within compared pairs, with activity of immobilized amylases decreasing after the second cycle to a lower level (42%) than activity of the modified immobilized enzymes after the fourth cycle (48%). These results demonstrate that in the preservation of activity of extracellular enzymes in soil both stabilization mechanisms are of importance: immobilization on organic carriers and modification of the enzyme conformation by low-molecular compounds with the functions of chemical chaperones.