MECHANISM OF ENHANCEMENT OF PROCHYMOSIN RENATURATION BY SOLUBILIZATION OF INCLUSION-BODIES AT ALKALINE PH

The renaturation efficiency of recombinant prochymosin depends on not only the renaturation conditions but also the solubilization (denatura tion) conditions. Compared with pH 8, solubilization of prochymosin-co ntaining inclusion bodies at pH 11 (8 mol/L urea) results in onefold i ncrease of renaturation efficiency (similar to 40% vs. similar to 20%) . Alkaline pH facilitates the solubilization of inclusion bodies via t he breakage of intermolecular disulfide bonds. Moreover, alkaline pH r enders prochymosin molecules to be in a more reduced and more unfolded state which undergoes refolding readily.