Stabilization of penicillin V acylase from Streptomyces lavendulae by covalent immobilization

Penicillin V acylase from the actinomycete Streptomyces lavendulae ATCC 13664 has been immobilized to epoxy‐activated acrylic beads (Eupergit C®) by covalent binding. Further linkage of bovine serum albumin after enzyme immobilization was carried out in order to remove the remaining oxirane groups of the support. The obtained immobilized biocatalyst displayed double exponential deactivation kinetics at temperatures below 55 °C, while the native enzyme followed single exponential decay at the same temperatures. We concluded that soluble penicillin acylase was deactivated in one step, whereas the immobilized enzyme showed an enzymatic intermediate state which is highly thermostable. As a consequence of the immobilization process, the enzyme displayed a 10‐fold increase in its half‐life at 40 °C. At this temperature, the enzymatic intermediate state was progressively destabilized as the pH of the medium was increased. Thus, the optimum pH range for the immobilized enzyme preparation was established as being from 7.0 to 8.0. Higher pH values led to quicker enzyme deactivation.