STREPTOKINASE RECOVERY BY CROSS-FLOW MICROFILTRATION - STUDY OF ENZYME DENATURATION

During streptokinase (SK) recovery by cross-flow microfiltration (CFMF ), a loss of activity of 14.4% was observed, after the initial volume was concentrated 8-fold (VCF=8.0); 51.5%, of the activity was recovere d in the filtrate and 34.1% remained in the retentate, Immunological e xperiments using polyclonal antibodies against SK have demonstrated th at SK activity loss during CFMF processes could be related to denatura tion of SK, forming molecules of lower or no activity, Accumulation of denatured SK in the retentate suggests that denaturation could be the results of an aggregation phenomenon (as has been demonstrated by lig ht scattering and chromatographic studies), leading to the formation o f protein aggregates that are retained by the microfiltration (MF) mem brane, affecting the fouling phenomenon and the concentration in the r etentate of permeable molecules.