1. Synthesis of aspartame precursor: alpha-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester in ethyl acetate using thermolysin entrapped in polyurethane
C P Yang, C S Su Biotechnol Bioeng. 1988 Aug 20;32(5):595-603. doi: 10.1002/bit.260320504.
Cross-linked polyurethane (PU) was prepared for entrapping thermolysin. Using the immobilized thermolysin (IT), Z-L-aspartic acid (ZA) was reacted with -Lphenylalanine methyl ester (L-PM) in water-saturated ethyl acetate to give only alpha-Z-L-aspartylL-phenylalanine methyl ester (alpha-ZAPM). Ninety-four percent conversion of alpha-ZAPM was obtained for 30 h of reaction at 40 degrees C when 46 mg of enzyme was entrapped. PU support prepared from polypropylene glycol (#2000) showed better properties than from polypropylene (#1000) and polyethylene (#1000). Addition of polyol could increase the gel fraction of PU. The IT PU-ll-G-3, prepared from 1/2 mole ratio of PPG (#2000)/glycerin, gave the highest gel fraction and best swelling, and 89.0% of residual activity was obtained after four times of reuse (72 h). The stability of immobilized thermolysin was good; the activity loss resulting from degradatin and leak of enzyme in each time of reuse were found only about 2%. The kinetics of immobilized thermolysin-catalyzed condensation reaction of ZA with L-PM in water-saturated ethyl acetate was found to be first order in L-PM and the Lineweaver-Burk plot of 1/V against 1/[ZA] yields a straight line, showing that the reaction involves consecutive reactions of ZA and L-PM with the immobilized enzyme and with the ZA-immobilized enzyme complex, with the second reaction being the rate determining step.
2. Use of molecularly imprinted polymers in a biotransformation process
L Ye, O Ramström, R J Ansell, M O Månsson, K Mosbach Biotechnol Bioeng. 1999 Sep 20;64(6):650-5.
Molecularly imprinted polymers are highly stable and can be sterilised, making them ideal for use in biotransformation process. In this communication, we describe a novel application of molecularly imprinted polymers in an enzymatic reaction. The enzymatic condensation of Z-L-aspartic acid with L-phenylalanine methyl ester to give Z-L-Asp-L-Phe-OMe (Z-aspartame) was chosen as a model system to evaluate the applicability of using molecularly imprinted polymers to facilitate product formation. When the product-imprinted polymer is present, a considerable increase (40%) in product yield is obtained. Besides their use to enhance product yields, as demonstrated here, we suggest that imprinted polymers may also find use in the continuous removal of toxic compounds during biochemical reactions.
3. A new application of molecularly imprinted materials
L Ye, O Ramström, M O Månsson, K Mosbach J Mol Recognit. 1998 Winter;11(1-6):75-8. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1099-1352(199812)11:1/63.0.CO;2-Q.
We have studied the possibility of shifting a thermodynamically unfavourable enzymatic equilibrium towards product formation via the addition of a highly specific adsorbent. The commercially interesting enzymatic condensation of Z-L-aspartic acid with L-phenylalanine methyl ester to the sweetener aspartame was chosen as the model system. Extremely stable and specific adsorbents for the product Z-L-Asp-L-Phe-OMe (Z-aspartame) were prepared using the emerging technique of molecular imprinting. A considerable increase (40%) in the yield of product was obtained when such adsorbents were present during the enzymatic reaction. The message of this investigation is that the use of such specific, sterilizable adsorbents should be considered for enzymatic processes to increase the yield. Finally, the direct isolation of a product formed by the retrieval of the adsorbents carrying the product can be envisaged, especially if the adsorbents are magnetic.
