Protein refolding via immobilisation on crystal surfaces

Davidson, Katrina Ann (2008) Protein refolding via immobilisation on crystal surfaces. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

Is it possible to find an easy, generic method for protein refolding? The preparation of
functionally active protein molecules from the unfolded state can be a difficult task.
Although there are many well-established techniques for protein refolding, such as
dilution, dialysis, chromatography and others, in many instances these methods can be time
consuming and inefficient. A rapid, inexpensive and simple method for protein folding is a
much sought after technique.
Proteins in the unfolded state (either inclusion bodies or unfolded by chemical or physical
means) are generally solubilised in solutions containing urea or guanidine hydrochloride.
The removal of these molecules from the protein environment is commonly utilised as a
method for triggering refolding.
A new method for the refolding of biomolecular species has been developed via the
formation of Protein Coated Micro-crystals (PCMC). The formation of PCMC is a
recently developed method for the immobilisation protein upon the surface of a watersoluble
excipient (salt, amino acid or sugar) via a co-precipitation reaction in a water
miscible organic solvent. These proteins can then be used as immobilised biocatalysts in
both the aqueous and organic phase.
In the immobilisation of unfolded, solubilised protein, the solubilising agents (e.g. urea or
guanidine hydrochloride) are removed from the protein environment as they are soluble in
the organic phase. The removal of these molecules initiates protein folding during the coprecipitation
process.
In the course of this project, a number of proteins were studied in order to observe their
behaviour in this immobilisation and simultaneous folding process. Lysozyme was utilised
as it is an enzyme which is relatively simple to refold from the chemically unfolded state
by conventional methods such as dilution. Upon immobilisation of lysozyme from the
chemically unfolded state, up to 92% of the activity of the native protein was regained.
The enzyme lipase, which is notoriously difficult to fold, was also used to determine the
efficiency of this method under more challenging conditions. Lipase immobilised from the
chemically unfolded state was seen to regain up to 36 % of the activity of the native
protein.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: Protein, Folding, Lysozyme, Lipase, PCMC, immobilisation
• Subjects: Q Science > QD Chemistry
• Colleges/Schools: College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
• Supervisor's Name: Cooper, Prof Alan
• Date of Award: 2008
• Depositing User: Dr Katrina Ann Davidson
• Unique ID: glathesis:2008-345
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 08 May 2009
• Last Modified: 10 Dec 2012 13:17
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/345