CROWN-ETHER ACTIVATION OF CROSS-LINKED SUBTILISIN CARLSBERG CRYSTALS IN ORGANIC-SOLVENTS

The activity of cross-linked subtilisin Carlsberg crystals in the cata lysis of peptide bond formation can be significantly enhanced by pretr eatment of the enzyme-crystals with crown ethers. Soaking of the enzym e crystals in a solution of crown ether in acetonitrile followed by ev aporation of the solvent results in an up to 13 times enhanced enzymat ic activity. The effects of crown ether treatment under various condit ions gives support for the hypothesis that removal of bound water mole cules from the active site during the drying process is the origin of the observed enzyme activation.