ACTIVITY LOSSES AMONG T4 LYSOZYME VARIANTS AFTER ADSORPTION TO COLLOIDAL SILICA

Maintaining a specific molecular conformation is essential for the pro per functioning of an enzyme. A substantial loss of catalytic activity can occur from the displacement caused by even a single amino acid su bstitution. Activity may also be lost as an enzyme undergoes a conform ational change during adsorption. In this study, we investigated the e ffect of thermostability on the activities of three T4 lysozyme varian ts after adsorption to 9 nm colloidal silica particles. Less-stable T4 lysozyme variants lost more activity after adsorption than did more s table variants, apparently because they experienced more extensive str uctural alteration. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.