CHEMICAL MODIFICATION OF LIPASE WITH POLY[(N-ACYLIMINO)ETHYLENE]S HAVING A HYDROPHOBIC COMPONENT AT THE POLYMER END

Novel amphiphilic polymeric modifiers, i.e., block copolymers of 2-oxa zolines containing hydrophobic and hydrophilic components (2), and hom opolymers of 2-oxazolines having one hydrophobic unit at the polymer e nd (5), were prepared. Each of the polymeric modifiers was coupled wit h Candida cylindracea lipase by using a carbodiimide. It was shown tha t a 2-oxazoline block copolymer having both a hydrophobic and a hydrop hilic component remarkably enhanced the thermal stability of lipase in organic solvents. It was also found that the introduction of a hydrop hobic unit at the polymer end gave a significant activation of the enz yme functions in organic solvents, even when poly[(N-acetylimino)ethyl ene], which was not a suitable modifier for enzyme use in an organic s olvent, was employed.