Effects of polyethylene terephthalate on yeast alcohol dehydrogenase.

Abstract

Yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (alcohol: NAD+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.1) was adsorbed onto polyethylene terephthalate, a synthetic polymer. The effects of the polymer on the properties of the enzyme were studied. The specific activity of the bound enzyme on protein basis was only 1.2 per cent of the specific activity of the soluble enzyme. The optimum pH for the catalytic activity was strongly shifted toward acidic direction. The apparent temperature optimum of the bound enzyme was identical with that of the soluble form. The apparent Michaelis constants of the bound enzyme were higher for both ethanol and NAD+. The conformational stability of the enzyme against heat treatment and urea was decreased as a consequence of adsorption.