Biotechnology Letters, Vol.22, No.4, 277-283, 2000
Irreversible lysozyme inactivation and aggregation induced by stirring: kinetic study and aggregates characterisation
Stirring strongly enhanced irreversible inactivation and aggregation of lysozyme being studied as a model enzyme. From 0 to 740 rpm (equivalent to impeller tip speeds from 0 to 0.77 m s(-1)), the inactivation kinetic constant was proportional to the power imparted by the impeller. Collisions between inactive and native molecules induced inactivation of the latter and led to lysozyme aggregation. These fractal aggregates of lysozyme were made of monomers, dimers and trimers.