Effect of the Pore Size of a Support on Activity and Action Pattern of Immobilized Endopolygalacturonase

Endopolygalacturonase (E.C. 3.2.1.15) was covalently bound to silica supports of different porosity treated with 3-(2′,3′-epoxypropoxy)propyltrimethoxysilane. The activity and action pattern on sodium pectate and tetra(D-galactosiduronic acid) were investigated in batch and continuous flow-reactors. Pore size of the supports affected the loading of the enzyme as well as its action pattern and kinetics. A decrease in randomness of degradation of D-galacturonan, loss of specificity of (3 + 1) splitting of tetra(D-galactosiduronic acid) and decrease in K_m value were found with the supports containing predominantly micropores. The extent of the changes decreased with increasing pore size of the support. The catalytic behaviour of endopolygalacturonase bound on the supports with large pores was quite analogous to that of the free enzymes.