Improving the catalytic performance of porcine pancreatic lipase in the presence of [MMIm][MeSO4] with the modification of functional ionic liquids

Porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL) was chemically modified with various functional ionic liquids (ILs) to increase its catalytic performance in water-miscible IL. Catalytic activity and thermostability were tested with a p-nitrophenyl palmitate (pNPP) hydrolysis reaction. The native enzyme lost 18% of its initial activity in 0.4 M [MMIm][MeSO₄], whereas the activities of all the modified enzymes increased. The [HOOCBMIm][Cl] modification led to a 2-fold increase in activity in 0.3 M [MMIm][MeSO₄] than in aqueous. All the modified enzymes exhibited higher thermostability compared with the native enzyme at high temperature. In particular, the [HOOCBMIm][Cl] modification led to a 6-fold increase in thermostability at 60 °C. Conformational changes were confirmed by fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism spectroscopy to elucidate the mechanism of catalytic performance alteration.     

Biocatalytic production of 3′-sialyllactose by use of a modified sialidase with superior trans-sialidase activity

Casein glycomacropeptide (cGMP) and lactose, which are purified (or semi-purified) components obtained from side streams from dairy industry operations, were used as substrates for enzyme catalyzed production of 3′-sialyllactose, a model case compound for human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). The enzyme employed was a mutated sialidase, Tr6, derived from Trypanosoma rangeli, and expressed in Pichia pastoris after codon-optimization. The Tr6 contained 6 point mutations and exhibited trans-sialidase activity. The Tr6 trans-sialidase reaction conditions were tuned for maximizing Tr6 catalyzed 3′-sialyllactose production by optimizing pH, temperature, acceptor, and donor concentrations using response surface designs. At the optimum reaction conditions, the Tr6 catalyzed the transfer of sialic acid from cGMP to lactose at high efficiency without substantial hydrolysis of the 3′-sialyllactose product. The robustness of the Tr6 catalyzed reaction was verified at 5 L-scale providing a yield of 3.6 g 3′-sialyllactose at an estimated molar trans-sialylation yield of 50% on the 3′-sialyl in cGMP. Lacto-N-tetraose and lacto-N-fucopentaoses also functioned as acceptor molecules demonstrating the versatility of the Tr6 trans-sialidase for catalyzing sialyl-transfer for generating different HMOs. The data signify the applicability of enzymatic trans-sialylation on dairy side-stream components for production of human milk oligosaccharides.     

Enzymatic synthesis of poly(ε-caprolactone) in monocationic and dicationic ionic liquids

Enzymatic polymerization can offer metal-free routes to polymer materials that could be used in biomedical applications. To take advantage of the unique properties of ionic liquids (ILs) for enzyme stability, monocationic ionic liquid (MIL) and dicationic ionic liquid (DIL) were used to promote the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) using Candida antarctica lipase B as catalyst. Considering the molecular weight (M _n ) and reaction yield of the resulting polymer (PCL), high density and viscosity of ILs would be good, especially in the case of DIL. With the same total alkyl chain length, the density and viscosity of [C₄(C₆Im)₂][PF₆]₂ were higher than that of [C₁₂MIm][PF₆]. Using a lipase/CL/ILs ratio of 1:20:20 (by wt) for 48 h at 90 °C, the highest M _n and reaction yield of PCL were 26,200 g/mol and 62 % with [C₄(C₆Im)₂][PF₆]₂, while the M _n and reaction yield of PCL obtained in [C₁₂MIm][PF₆] were 11,700 g/mol and 37 %.     

Growth of Escherichia coli, Pichia pastoris and Bacillus cereus in the Presence of the Ionic Liquids [BMIM][BF4] and [BMIM][PF6] and Organic Solvents

The influence of the two most commonly used ionic liquids (1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate, [BMIM][BF₄], 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium hexafluorophosphate, [BMIM][PF₆]) and three selected organic solvents (dimethylsulfoxide, ethanol, methanol) on the growth of Escherichia coli, Pichia pastoris and Bacillus cereus was investigated. [BMIM][BF₄] was toxic at 1% (v/v) on all three microorganisms. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of [BMIM][BF₄] on E. coli growth was between 0.7 and 1% (v/v). In contrast, [BMIM][PF₆] was less toxic for P. pastoris and B. cereus, whereas E. coli was not able to tolerate [BMIM][PF₆] (MIC value: 0.3–0.7% v/v). Growth of P. pastoris was unaffected by [BMIM][PF₆] at 10% (v/v). Similar results were found for dimethylsulfoxide. Thus, ionic liquids (ILs) can have substantial inhibitory effects on the growth of microorganisms, which should be taken into account for environmental reasons as well as for the use of ILs as co-solvents in biotransformations. Revisions requested 2 November 2005; Revisions received 20 December 2005     

Catalytic activity of α-chymotrypsin in enzymatic peptide synthesis in ionic liquids

The catalytic activity of α-chymotrypsin in the enzymatic peptide synthesis of N-acetyl-l-tryptophan ethyl ester with glycyl glycinamide was examined in ionic liquids and organic solvents. The water content in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide ([emim][FSI]) affected the initial rates of peptide synthesis and hydrolysis. The activity of α-chymotrypsin was influenced by a kind of anions consisting of the same cation, [emim], when an ionic liquid was used as a solvent. The initial rate of peptide synthesis was improved 16-fold by changing from an organic solvent, acetonitrile, to an ionic liquid, [emim][FSI], at 25 °C. The activity of α-chymotrypsin in the peptide synthesis in [emim][FSI] was 17 times greater than that in acetonitrile at 60 °C, although the activity of α-chymotrypsin in the peptide synthesis gradually decreased with an increase in reaction temperature in [emim][FSI], similar to organic solvents. Moreover, α-chymotrypsin exhibited activity in [emim][FSI] and [emim][PF₆] at 80 °C.     

15α-Hydroxylation of a steroid (13-ethyl-gon-4-en-3,17-dione) by Penicillium raistrickii in an ionic liquid/aqueous biphasic system

Biphasic processes are used in whole-cell biotransformation to overcome the low water solubility of substrates and products as well as their inhibitory effects on the biocatalyst. Commercially available [NTf₂]- and [PF₆]-based ionic liquids (ILs) were used in a biphasic system for the 15α-hydroxylation of 13-ethyl-gon-4-en-3,17-dione by Penicillium raistrickii. With the substrate at 5 g l^?1 and a volume ratio of IL to buffer, buffer pH and cell density at, 1:9, 6.5, 16.8 g_DW l^?1, respectively, the 15α-hydroxylation of 13-ethyl-gon-4-en-3,17-dione was achieved with a yield of 70 % after 72 h using [BMIm][NTf₂] in a 50 ml biphasic system. This is compared to a 30 % yield in a monophasic aqueous system. This suggests the potential industrial application of ILs-based biphasic systems for steroid biotransformation.     

Partial uncompetitive inhibition of horseradish peroxidase by a water-miscible ionic liquid [BMIM][MeSO4

The ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methylsulfate ([BMIM][MeSO₄]), was used to investigate the catalytic mechanism of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The ionic liquid decreased both K_m and k_cat values for the HRP-catalyzed oxidation of guaiacol (2-methoxyphenol) by H₂O₂. These studies imply that [BMIM][MeSO₄] inhibits the enzyme in an uncompetitive manner. The incorporation of substrate stabilization effects measured by a thermodynamic method into the partial uncompetitive inhibition scheme successfully describes HRP-catalysis in the presence of [BMIM][MeSO₄], which participates as the inhibitor. The inhibition constant of the ionic liquid was 0.051 M. The turn-over number of the native HRP was almost 14-times higher than that of the HRP-ionic liquid complex indicating that [BMIM][MeSO₄] does not form a dead-end complex with HRP.     

Hydrogenation of C–C double bonds in an ionic liquid reaction system using the obligate anaerobe, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sporomusa termitida</Emphasis>

Sporomusa termitida reduced caffeate (1mM) in anaerobic, two-liquid phase, reaction systems containing either tetradecane or 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate {[bmim][PF₆]} (20% v/v). The initial rate and final product yield were 20 and 7% lower, respectively, in [bmim][PF₆]. Since caffeate partitioned only into the aqueous phase, the lower rate cannot be attributed to mass transfer barriers. Therefore, [bmim][PF₆] inhibited the biocatalyst, perhaps unsurprisingly since it is very polar and hydrolyses to produce HF.Revisions requested 30 September 2004; Revisions received 2 December 2004     

Effect of ionic liquid [BMIM][PF<Subscript>6</Subscript>] on asymmetric reduction of ethyl 2-oxo-4-phenylbutyrate by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharomyces cerevisiae</Emphasis>

The effect of ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM][PF₆]) on the asymmetric reduction of ethyl 2-oxo-4-phenylbutyrate (EOPB) to synthesize optical active ethyl 2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyrate (EHPB) catalyzed by Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated. (R)-EHPB [70.4%, e.e.(R)] is obtained using ethyl ether or benzene as the solvent. The main product is (S)-EHPB [27.7%, e.e.(S)] in [BMIM][PF₆]. However, in ionic liquid-water (10:1, v/v) biphasic system, the enantioselectivity of the reduction is shifted towards (R)-side, and e.e.(R) is increased from 6.6 to 82.5% with the addition of ethanol (1%, v/v). The effect of the use of [BMIM][PF₆] as an additive in relatively small amounts on the reduction was also studied. We find that there is a decline in the enantioselectivity of the reduction in benzene. In addition, a decrease in the conversion of EOPB and the yield of EHPB with increasing [BMIM][PF₆] concentrations occurs in either organic solvent–water biphasic systems or benzene.     

Lipase‐catalyzed enantioselective transesterification of prochiral 1‐((1,3‐dihydroxypropan‐2‐yloxy)methyl)‐5,6,7,8‐tetrahydroquinazoline‐2,4(1H,3H)‐dione in ionic liquids

The application of ionic liquids as solvents for transesterification of prochiral pirymidine acyclonucleoside using lipase (EC 3.1.1.3) Amano PS from Burkholderia cepacia (BCL) is reported. The effect of using medium reaction, acyl group donor, and temperature on the activity and enantioselectivity of BCL was studied. From the investigated ionic solvents, the hydrophobic ionic liquid [BMIM]PF₆] was the preferred medium for enzymatic reactions. However, the best result was obtained in the mixture [BMIM][PF₆]:TBME (1:1 v/v) at 50°C. Enzyme activity and selectivity in [BMIM][PF₆]:TBME (1:1 v/v) was slightly higher in than in conventional organic solvents (for example, TBME), and in this condition, good activity and enantioselectivity were associated with unique properties of ionic liquid such as hydrophobicity and high polarity. Independently of solvents, monester of (R)‐configuration was obtained in excess. Under optimal conditions, desymmetrization of the prochiral compound using different acyl donors was performed. If vinyl butyrate was used as the acylating agent, BCL completely selectively acylated enantiotopic hydroxyl groups.     

Synthesis of poly(ε-caprolactone) by an immobilized lipase coated with ionic liquids in a solvent-free condition

Polycaprolactone (PCL) was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone through two different enzymatic processes. The lipase from Candida antarctica B, immobilized on macroporous acrylic acid beads, was employed either untreated or coated with small amounts of ionic liquids (ILs). Monocationic ionic liquids, [C _n MIm][NTf₂] (n = 2, 6, 12), as well as a dicationic ionic liquid, ([C₄(C₆Im)₂][NTf₂]₂), were used to coat the immobilized lipase and also as the reaction medium. In both methods, the polarity, anion of the ILs concentration and viscosity strongly influenced the reaction. Coating the immobilized enzyme with ILs improved catalytic activity and less ILs was required to produce PCL with a higher molecular weight and reaction yield. At 60 °C and ILs/Novozyme-435 coating ratio of 3:1 (w/w) for 48 h, the highest M _w and reaction yield of PCL were 35,600 g/mol and 62 % in the case of [C₁₂MIm][NTf₂], while the M _w and reaction yield of PCL was 20,300 g/mol and 54 % with [C₁₂MIm][NTf₂] and catalyzed by untreated lipase.     

Enzymatic synthesis of poly-l-lactide and poly-l-lactide-co-glycolide in an ionic liquid

The syntheses of poly-l-lactide (PLLA) and poly-l-lactide-co-glycolide (PLLGA) is reported in the ionic liquid 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [HMIM][PF₆] mediated by the enzyme lipase B from Candida antarctica (Novozyme 435). The highest PLLA yield (63%) was attained at 90 °C with a molecular weight (M _n ) of 37.8 × 10³ g/mol determined by size exclusion chromatography. This procedure produced relatively high crystalline polymers (up to 85% PLLA) as determined by DSC. In experiments at 90 °C product synthesis also occurred without biocatalyst, however, PLLA synthesis in [HMIM][PF₆] at 65 °C followed only the enzymatic mechanism as ring opening was not observed without the enzyme. In addition, the enzymatic synthesis of PLLGA is first reported here using Novozyme 435 biocatalyst with up to 19% of lactyl units in the resulting copolymer as determined by NMR. Materials were also characterized by TGA, MALDI-TOF–MS, X-ray diffraction, polarimetry and rheology.     

Effect of replacing [NTf2] by [PF6] anion on the [BMIm][NTf2] ionic liquid confined by gold

The effect of replacing bis(trifluoromethylsulphonyl)imide ([NTf₂]) by hexafluorophosphate ([PF₆]) in room temperature ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulphonyl)imide ([BMIm][NTf₂]) confined between two gold interfaces is herein reported through molecular dynamics simulations using all-atom non-polarisable force-fields. Five systems were studied ranging from pure [BMIm][NTf₂] to pure [BMIm][PF₆], with [PF₆] molar fractions of 0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.375 and 0.5. Special attention was drawn to investigate the impact of the [PF₆] anion on the IL, in particular on the first layers of the liquid in close contact with the solid gold surface.     

Chemical modifications by ionic liquid-inspired cations improve the activity and the stability of formate dehydrogenase in [MMIm][Me2PO4]

The formate dehydrogenase (FDH, EC: 1.2. 1.2) from Candida boidinii was found to be inactivated and unstable in the presence of high concentration (>50%) of the water soluble dimethylimidazolium dimethyl phosphate ([MMIm][Me₂PO₄]) ionic liquid. In order to circumvent this problem, the enzyme was chemically modified by cations usually present in ionic liquids: cholinium (1), hydroxyethyl-methylimidazolium (2) and hydroxypropyl-methylimidazolium (3) cations were activated with carbonyldiimidazole before being reacted with the FDH leading to a heterogeneous population of 6–7 biocatalysts. FDH modified by (1) or (3) led to 3–9 modifications while FDH modified by (2) led to 6 proteins presenting 7–12 grafted cations. Specific activity of the modified enzymes was decreased by a 2.5–3-fold factor (0.10–0.15 μmol min⁻¹ mg⁻¹) compared to the non-modified FDH (0.33 μmol min⁻¹ mg⁻¹) when assayed in carbonate buffer (pH 9.7, 25 mM). After modification, the FDH still present 0.06 μmol min⁻¹ mg⁻¹ in 70% [MMIm][Me₂PO₄] (v:v) (30–45% of their activity in aqueous buffer) while the native enzyme is inactive at this ionic liquid concentration, proving the efficiency of this strategy. The half-life of the modified enzyme is also increased by a 5-fold factor after modification by (1) (t_1/2 of 9 days) and by a 3-fold factor after modification by (2) or (3) (t_1/2 of 6 and 5 days respectively) in aqueous solution. When stored in 37.5% [MMIm][Me₂PO₄] (v:v), both modified and unmodified FDH have an increased half-life (t_1/2 of 6–9 days). This grafting strategy is found to be good methods to mimic and study the stabilizing effect of ionic liquids on enzymes.     

Optimization of lipase-catalyzed synthesis of caffeic acid phenethyl ester in ionic liquids by response surface methodology

Lipase-catalyzed caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) synthesis in ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide ([Emim][Tf₂N]), was investigated in this study. The effects of several reaction conditions, including reaction time, reaction temperature, substrate molar ratio of phenethyl alcohol to caffeic acid (CA), and weight ratio of enzyme to CA, on CAPE yield were examined. In a single parameter study, the highest CAPE yield in [Emim][Tf₂N] was obtained at 70 °C with a substrate molar ratio of 30:1 and weight ratio of enzyme to CA of 15:1. Based on these results, response surface methodology (RSM) with a 3-level-4-factor central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was adopted to evaluate enzymatic synthesis of CAPE in [Emim][Tf₂N]. The four major factors were reaction time (36–60 h), reaction temperature (65–75 °C), substrate molar ratio of phenethyl alcohol to CA (20:1–40:1), and weight ratio of enzyme to CA (10:1–20:1). A quadratic equation model was used to analyze the experimental data at a 95 % confidence level (p < 0.05). A maximum conversion yield of 99.8 % was obtained under the optimized reaction conditions [60 h, 73.7 °C, substrate molar ratio of phenethyl alcohol to CA (27.1:1), and weight ratio of enzyme to CA (17.8:1)] established by our statistical method, whereas the experimental conversion yield was 96.6 ± 2 %.     

Optimization of (R,S)-1-phenylethanol kinetic resolution over Candida antarctica lipase B in ionic liquids

The kinetic resolution of racemates constitutes one major route to manufacture optically pure compounds. The enzymatic kinetic resolution of (R,S)-1-phenylethanol over Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) by using vinyl acetate as the acyl donor in the acylation reaction was chosen as model reaction. A systematic screening and optimization of the reaction parameters, such as enzyme, ionic liquid and substrates concentrations with respect to the final product concentration, were performed. The enantioselectivity of immobilized CALB commercial preparation, Novozym 435, was assayed in several ionic liquids as reaction media. In particular, three different ionic liquids: (i) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [bmim][PF₆], (ii) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [bmim][BF₄] and (iii) 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium triflimide [emim][NTf₂] were tested. At 6.6% (w/w) of Novozym 435, dispersed in 9.520 M of [bmim][PF₆] at 313.15 K, using an equimolar ratio of vinyl acetate/(R,S)-1-phenylethanol after 3 h of bioconversion, the highest possible conversion (50%) was reached with enantiomeric excess for substrate higher than 99%.     

Catalytic activity of α-chymotrypsin in enzymatic peptide synthesis in ionic liquids

The catalytic activity of α-chymotrypsin in the enzymatic peptide synthesis of N-acetyl-l-tryptophan ethyl ester with glycyl glycinamide was examined in ionic liquids and organic solvents. The water content in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide ([emim][FSI]) affected the initial rates of peptide synthesis and hydrolysis. The activity of α-chymotrypsin was influenced by a kind of anions consisting of the same cation, [emim], when an ionic liquid was used as a solvent. The initial rate of peptide synthesis was improved 16-fold by changing from an organic solvent, acetonitrile, to an ionic liquid, [emim][FSI], at 25 °C. The activity of α-chymotrypsin in the peptide synthesis in [emim][FSI] was 17 times greater than that in acetonitrile at 60 °C, although the activity of α-chymotrypsin in the peptide synthesis gradually decreased with an increase in reaction temperature in [emim][FSI], similar to organic solvents. Moreover, α-chymotrypsin exhibited activity in [emim][FSI] and [emim][PF₆] at 80 °C.     

Partitioning of acidic, basic and neutral amino acids into imidazolium-based ionic liquids

In this paper, partitioning behaviors of typical neutral (Alanine), acidic (Glutamic acid) and basic (Lysine) amino acids into imidazolium-based ionic liquids [C₄mim][PF₆], [C₆mim][PF₆], [C₈mim][PF₆], [C₆mim][BF₄] and [C₈mim][BF₄] as extracting solvents were examined. [C₆mim][BF₄] showed the best efficiency for partitioning of amino acids. The partition coefficients of amino acids in ionic liquids were found to depend strongly on pH of the aqueous solution, amino acid and ionic liquid chemical structures. Different chemical forms of amino acids in aqueous solutions were pH dependent, so the pH value of the aqueous phase was a determining factor for extraction of amino acids into ionic liquid phase. Both water content of ionic liquids and charge densities of their anionic and cationic parts were important factors for partitioning of cationic and anionic forms of amino acids into ionic liquid phase. Extracted amino acids were back extracted into phosphate buffer solutions adjusted on appropriate pH values. The results showed that ionic liquids could be used as suitable modifiers on the stationary phase of an HPLC column for efficient separation of acidic, basic, and neutral amino acids.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (R)-1-chloro-3(3,4-difluorophenoxy)-2-propanol using lipases from Pseudomonas aeruginosa in ionic liquid-containing system

Direct transesterification of (R,S)-1-chloro-3-(3,4-difluorophenoxy)-2-propanol (rac-CDPP) (a key intermediate in the synthesis of the chiral drug (S)-lubeluzole) with vinyl butyrate by lipases from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) MTCC 5113 was performed in hexane with ionic liquids (ILs) 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium hexafluorophosphate [BMIm][PF₆] and 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate [BMIm][BF₄] as co-solvents. The maximum conversion (>49%) and enantiomeric excess (ee > 99.9%) was achieved in 6 h of incubation at 30 °C with [BMIm][PF₆] as co-solvent in a two-phase system. The enzyme was able to perform with the same specificity even at 60 °C in the presence of ILs. It was possible to use lipases repeatedly for more than 10 times while still maintaining absolute enantioselectivity and reactivity. Stability studies on lipases from P. aeruginosa in ILs revealed the fact that the enzyme constancy and the reactivity in catalyzing transesterification of rac-CDPP into (S)-1-chloro-3-(3,4-difluorophenoxy)-2-butanoate was of the order of [BMIm][PF₆] > [BMIm][BF₄] in two-phase system.     

Rhodium(III) cis-dihydrido complexes with 3,6-bis(2′-pyridyl)pyridazine (dppn) and bidiazines. Crystal and molecular structure of [Rh(H)2(dppn)(PPh3)2]PF6· CH2Cl2

The acetone complex [Rh(H)₂(acetone)₂(PPh₃)₂]- PF₆ reacts with bidiazines and 3,6-bis(2′-pyridyl)- pyridazine (dppn) giving the air stable cis-dihydrido rhodium(III) [Rh(H)₂(L)(PPh₃)₂]PF₆ complexes. The structure of the dichloromethane solvate of [Rh(H)₂(dppn)(PPh₃)₂]PF₆ has been determined by X-ray crystal structure analysis. Crystals are monoclinic, space group P2₁/a, with a = 18.629(6), b = 15.339(5), c = 17.146(5) Å, β = 101.02(3)° and Z = 4. The structure has been solved from diffractometer data by Patterson and Fourier methods and refined by block-matrix least-squares to R = 0.076 for 6225 observed reflections. In the structure discrete [Rh(H)₂(dppn)(PPh₃)₂]⁺ cationic complexes, PF₆⁻ anions and dichloromethane solvent molecules are present. The Rh atom is octahedrally surrounded by two cis hydride ligands and by two cis nitrogen atoms from a dppn molecule acting as a bidentate chelating ligand through two neighbouring pyridyl and pyridazinyl nitrogen atoms. Two P atoms from PPh₃, ligands in trans apical positions complete to octahedral the coordination of Rh.