A new support for the immobilization of penicillin acylase

Mesoporous MCM-41 having well ordered long-range structure, large pore diameters, narrow pore-size distribution, high pore volume and specific surface area has been synthesized. The surface of MCM-41 has an abundance of weakly acidic hydroxyl groups. Assay results show that MCM-41 is a more effective support for the immobilization of Penicillin Acylase (PA) than many of other supports due to its structural and surface characteristics. PA can be immobilized on MCM-41 through either direct immobilization or covalent coupling. The former gives higher activity of IME than the later. In the direct immobilization, PA molecules are immobilized on MCM-41 through the hydrogen-bonded interaction between hydroxyl groups of MCM-41 and carbonyl or amino groups in the PA molecule.