SYNTHESIS OF LINOLEIC-ACID HYDROPEROXIDE USING IMMOBILIZED LIPOXYGENASE IN POLYACRYLAMIDE-GEL

Lipoxygenase from soybean has been immobilized in polyacrylamide gel d erivatized with glutaraldehyde as a means to facilitate obtaining hydr operoxy derivatives of linoleic acid. We have found that 10% acrylamid e, 6% glutaraldehyde, and pH 8.0 are the best conditions for the coupl ing of enzyme to gel. Although catalytic efficiency is lowered by the coupling process, the stability of the system is maintained at a high level, and lipoxygenase products are not altered by the immobilization process. The use of the system in a reactor revealed that no effect o f self-inactivation is produced by long-term reaction, thereby making feasible the use of a lipoxygenase bioreactor for the synthesis of lip oxygenase products.