POLYMER-POLYMER ORGANIC-SOLVENT 2-PHASE SYSTEM - A NEW-TYPE OF REACTION MEDIUM FOR BIOORGANIC SYNTHESIS

Mixing solutions of polymers dissolved in chloroform resulted in turbi d solutions that parted into two separate phases upon standing. Each p hase consisted primarily of one of the two polymers and contained only small amounts of the other. An enzyme (alpha-chymotrypsin) added to t he two-phase system partitioned preferentially to one of the phases; t his was observed with native enzyme and with enzyme associated with on e of the polymers through non-covalent interactions. Under the conditi ons studied, alpha-chymotrypsin was active and expressed even higher a ctivity and stability than native enzyme added to the organic solvent without polymer. An emulsion was easily formed on mixing with small dr oplets of one of the phases suspended in the other phase. By operating with the enzyme in the emulsion, a very attractive system for carryin g out enzyme-catalyzed conversions was created. Short diffusion distan ces and minimized steric hindrance are two characteristics of such sys tems. At the conclusion of the reaction, stirring/mixing was ceased an d, after phase separation, it was possible to recover the enzyme as we ll as the product, under ideal conditions, from different phases. The enzyme was then reused. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.