Enzymatic degradations of copolymers of L-lactide with cyclic carbonates

Syntheses and biodegradation of random copolymers of L -lactide (L -LA) with trimethylene carbonate (TMC), 1,1-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate (1,1-DTMC) and 2,2-dimethyltrimethylene carbonate (2,2-DTMC) were investigated at various monomer ratios using SmMe(C₅Me₅)₂THF as an initiator at 80 °C for 24 h in toluene. Enzymatic degradation of these polymers were performed using cholesterol esterase, lipoprotein lipase, and proteinase K. Poly(TMC) was effectively biodegraded by cholesterol esterase and lipoprotein lipase, while poly(2,2-DTMC) and all the copolymers were hardly degraded using these enzymes. Biodegradations of poly(L -LA-co-TMC) (97:3) and poly(L -LA-co-2,2,DTMC) (95:5) show rapid degradations using TES buffer, a compost and proteinase K. The physical properties of these copolymers were also examined.

Enzymatic degradation of L -LA/2,2-DTMC copolymers by proteinase K in Tricine buffer (pH 8.0) at 37 °C: a 98:2, b 82:18, c 100:0, d 66:34, e 34:66, f 0:100.     

Enzyme‐Catalyzed Preparation of Aliphatic Polyesters Containing Thioester Linkages

Aliphatic polyesters containing thioester linkages were enzymatically prepared by both the copolymerization of lactone with mercaptoalkanoic acid and by the transesterification of polyesters with mercaptoalkanoic acids. The enzymatic copolymerization of ε‐caprolactone with 11‐mercaptoundecanoic acid (11MU) and 3‐mercaptopropionic acid (3MP) was performed under reduced pressure using an immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica (CA). The transesterification of poly(ε‐caprolactone) and poly[(R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate] was carried out with 11MU and 3MP using lipase CA under reduced pressure.

     

Enzymatic polymerization: A new method of polymer synthesis

Enzymatic polymerization denotes an in vitro polymerization via nonbiosynthetic pathways catalyzed by an isolated enzyme. This article describes the recent progress of this polymerization technique, developed mainly during this decade. The polymerization utilizes enzymes of hydrolases and oxidoreductases as catalysts. This new method of polymer synthesis provided natural polysaccharides like cellulose, amylose, xylan, and chitin, and unnatural polysaccharides catalyzed by a glycosidase from well-designed monomers, various functionalized polyesters catalyzed by lipase from a variety of monomers, and polyaromatics materials catalyzed by an oxidoreductase and an enzyme model complex from phenols and anilines. An oxidoreductase also initiated vinyl polymerizations. Characteristic features of enzymatic polymerizations are discussed, including the importance of the combination of substrate monomer and enzyme. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 3041–3056, 1999     

Studies of lipase-catalyzed polyesterification of an unactivated diacid/diol system

Preliminary enzymatic polymerization studies in the simple stoichiometric adipic acid/butane-1,4-diol system using lipase B from Candida antarctica, immobilized as Novozym 435®, suggest that in solvent-free conditions a step-growth mechanism operates involving the sequential addition of an AB synthon by esterification mode only. Conversely, in toluene as solvent there is a change to the more facile transesterification mode in line with the conventional polyesterification procedure, pointing to a change in specificity of the lipase. Evidence is drawn from qualitative studies using a series of synthetic intermediates, enabling authentication of product mixtures together with an indication of the comparative reactivity of species along the proposed reaction pathway. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 2069–2080, 1998     

Computer-Assisted Recombination (CompassR) Teaches us How to Recombine Beneficial Substitutions from Directed Evolution Campaigns

A main remaining challenge in protein engineering is how to recombine beneficial substitutions. Systematic recombination studies show that poorly performing variants are usually obtained after recombination of 3 to 4 beneficial substitutions. This limits researchers in exploiting nature's potential in generating better enzymes. The Computer-assisted Recombination (CompassR) strategy provides a selection guide for beneficial substitutions that can be recombined to gradually improve enzyme performance by analysis of the relative free energy of folding (ΔΔG_fold). The performance of CompassR was evaluated by analysis of 84 recombinants located on 13 positions of Bacillus subtilis lipase A. The finally obtained variant F17S/V54K/D64N/D91E had a 2.7-fold improved specific activity in 18.3 % (v/v) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM][Cl]). In essence, the deducted CompassR rule allows recombination of beneficial substitutions in an iterative manner and empowers researchers to generate better enzymes in a time-efficient manner.     

Enzyme-catalyzed Transesterification of Unusual Substrate:Synthesis of Acyclovir and L-ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) Vinyl Esters

The synthesis of acyclovir and L-ascorbic acid with divinyladipate was performed with alkaline protesae from Bacillus subtilis and lipase from Lipozyme (immobilized from Mucor miehei)in different anhydrous organic solvents.Two corresponding derivatives were obtained.     

溶剂量子化学特性对鱼油多不饱和脂酰甘油酯非水相酶促合成作用的影响

鱼油多不饱和脂酰甘油酯非水相酶促合成率与底物摩尔比例、反应温度、溶剂分子性质及溶剂系统中的最初水分含量有密切关系。溶剂分子的量子化学特性对非水相酶促酯化反应具有极为重要的影响。酯化率依溶剂分子最高占有轨道能量的增高及前沿轨道能差的减少而增加。溶剂分子电荷密度、静电势及前沿轨道系数对酯化率无显著影响。说明溶剂分子内不存在作用中心，溶剂分子主要是为非水相酶促酯化反应提供易于形成酶一底物电荷转移复合物的诱导场环境。     

聚乙烯亚胺改性聚丙烯腈中空膜固定脂肪酶

聚丙烯腈是富腈基的高分子聚合物,易修饰改性,广泛应用于膜分离应用.我们以聚丙烯腈中空膜为载体,采用化学法交联聚乙烯亚胺并固定脂肪酶,固定过程中引入海藻酸钠,用CaCl_2进行后处理,得到固定化脂肪酶PAN-PEI-SA/E-CaCl_2载酶量为31.70(mg enzyme)/(g support),酶活为50.20 U/(g support),15次重复使用可保留58.77%的酶活,与游离酶相比耐酸性和耐温性有所提高,相同条件下与Nov 435相比,酶活更高,这表明最终得到的固定化脂肪酶有良好的工业应用前景.     

Effect of polyphenols from Vicia faba L on lipase activity and melanogenesis

Two new flavonoid glycosides, kaempferol 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→6) (3′′-acetyl)-β-D-galactopyranoside 1 and kaempferol 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-5-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside 2, along with six known ones 3–8 were isolated from the flowers of Vicia faba L. (Fabaceae). Methanol extract and the isolated compounds were tested against lipase and melanogenesis inhibition activities and resulted in that compound 2 showed 53 and 77% lipase inhibition activity in concentrations of 400 and 800 μg/mL, respectively. For melanogenesis, compounds 2, 3 and 4 exhibited potent melanogenesis inhibition activity where the melanin content in melanoma cells was decreased to be about 57.5, 56 and 61%, respectively, with no obvious melanocytotoxicity. The rest of compounds showed weak to moderate activity. The results of melanogenesis inhibition activity of this study suggested the potential use of Vicia faba flowers as a skin-whitening agent and reveal the flowers to be a rich source of important phytochemicals with antilipase and melanogenesis inhibitory activity.     

Enantio‐, Regio‐, and Chemoselective Lipase‐Catalyzed Polymer Synthesis

In contrast to chemical routes, enzymatic polymerization possesses favorable characteristics of mild reaction conditions, few by‐products, and high activity toward cyclic lactones which make it a promising technique for constructing polymeric materials. Meanwhile, it can avoid the trace residue of metallic catalysts and potential toxicity, and thus exhibits great potential in the biomedical fields. More importantly, lipase‐catalyzed polymer synthesis usually shows favorable enantio‐, regio‐, and chemoselectivity. Here, the history and recent developments in lipase‐catalyzed selective polymerization for constructing polymers with unique structures and properties are highlighted. In particular, the synthesis of polymeric materials which are difficult to prepare in a chemical route and the construction of polymers through the combination of selective enzymatic and chemical methods are focused. In addition, the future direction is proposed especially based on the rapid developments in computational chemistry and protein engineering techniques.