Immobilization of horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase on copolymers of glycidyl methacrylate and ethylene dimethacrylate

Alcohol dehydrogenase has been immobilized to the basic copolymer and its several derivatives using various techniques. Enzyme coupling to the supports with amino groups by means of glutaraldehyde was found the most suitable. Activity of alcohol dehydrogenase coupled to these amino supports was comparable to that of the enzyme bound to Sepharose. Thermal and pH stability of alcohol dehydrogenase increased essentially upon immobilization. Kinetic properties of the immobilized enzyme differed from those of free alcohol dehydrogenase, pH optimum shifted to alkaline range, and apparent Michaelis constants for substrates and coenzymes increased. Curvatures observed in Lineweaver-Burk plots for coenzymes suggest an involvement of diffusion effects in the reaction catalyzed by alcohol dehydrogenase linked to these polymers.