Lactase in Immobilized Cells of Watermelon

A cell suspension culture of Citrullus vulgaris Schrad cv. Samara was permeabilized by Tween 80 and immobilized by glutaraldehyde. The highest lactase activity was achieved at pH 4.3, the temperature optimum for cell suspension was at 50°C, while for the immobilized cells the optimum was at 58°C. The hydrolysis of substrate was linear for 3 h, reaching 60-67% conversion rate. The cells were characterized by high enzyme activity. The stability of the enzyme showed convenient physico-mechanical properties (physical protection from shear forces and easy separation of product from biocatalysts) in long-term storage.