Vinylene carbonate (VCA), beta -hydroxyethylene acrylate, and N, N'-methylene bisacrylamide were dissolved in water, and the aqueous solutions were copolymerized via reverse-phase suspension copolymerization in paraffin oil. A series of hydrophilic and beaded supports containing reactive cyclic carbonate groups for enzyme immobilization were obtained. The supports were examined by coupling with trypsin, and the results showed that the amount of enzymes coupled to the supports and the specific activity of the immobilized trypsin were related to the content of VCA structure units and the reaction time. Meanwhile, the optimal pH and temperature, as well as the Michaelis-Menten constant K-m, for both native and immobilized trypsin were measured. (C) 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.