Properties of a glucose oxidase covalently immobilized on amorphous AlPO4 support

Glucose oxidase (GOD) was covalently immobilized on amorphous AlPO₄ as well as on an AlPO₄/clay mineral Sepiolite system. Immobilization of the enzyme was carried out through the -amino group of lysine residues through an aromatic Schiff's-base. Activation of the support was obtained after reaction of appropriate molecules with support surface –OH groups. The enzymatic activities of native, and different immobilized GOD systems and filtrates, were followed by the amount of liberated -gluconic acid obtained in the enzymatic β- -glucose oxidation with the aid of an automatic titrator. The kinetic properties of native and immobilized GOD were obtained for glucose concentrations in the range of physiological conditions and at different working conditions such as reaction temperature, reaction pH, and enzyme concentration.

The binding percentage of enzymes was in the 50–80% range, with residual and specific activities in the 65–80% and 90–150% ranges, respectively. No change in the pH optimum and only slight changes in the V_max and K_M kinetic parameters with respect to native GOD were observed, so that not only was little deactivation of enzyme obtained throughout the immobilization process but also that the stability of the covalently bound enzyme in the two supports appeared to have increased with respect to the soluble enzyme. GOD immobilization also increased its efficiency and operational stability in repeated uses on increasing the amount of immobilized enzyme.