Aggregate of a peptide-containing block copolymer with a lipase

The peptide-containing block copolymer poly(N-acetyliminoethylene)-block-poly(L -phenylalanine) (1) formed large water-soluble aggregates in water due to the hydrophobic and hydrogen-bonding character of the poly(L -phenylalanine) block. The solution properties of 1 were compared with those of the block copolymer poly(N-acetyliminoethylene)-block-poly(N-benzoyliminoethylene) (2) with an analogous structure. 1 formed aggregates even though the poly(phenylalanine) segment was short as compared with 2 in which hydrophobic interaction may be the only driving force to form aggregates. The aggregates have strong capability of incorporating Lipase P and largely increase the hydrolysis activity against p-nitrophenyl propionate as compared with that of free Lipase P.