Biotechnology Letters, Vol.33, No.6, 1215-1219, 2011
Correlation between thermostability and stability of glycosidases in ionic liquid
The activity and stability of a beta-glycosidase (Thermus thermophilus) and two alpha-galactosidases (Thermotoga maritima and Bacillus stearothermophilus) were studied in different hydrophilic ionic liquid (IL)/water ratios. For the ILs used, the glycosidases showed the best stability and activity in 1,3-dimethylimidazolium methyl sulfate [MMIM][MeSO4] and 1,2,3-trimethylimidazolium methyl sulfate [TMIM] [MeSO4]. A close correlation was observed between the thermostability of the enzymes and their stability in IL media. At high IL concentration (80%), a time-dependent irreversible denaturing effect was observed on glycosidases while, at lower concentration (<30%), a reversible inactivation affecting mainly the k(cat) was obtained. The results demonstrate that highly thermostable glycosidases are more suitable for biocatalytic reactions in water-miscible ILs.