CARRAGEENAN IMMOBILIZATION OF GLUCOSE ISOMERASE

IMMOBILIZED FORMS OF ENZYMES HAVE OUTSTANDING PROMISE AS INDUSTRIAL CATALYSTS TO MAKE OR MODIFY PRODUCTS; AND ADVANCES IN IMMOBILIZED ENZYME TECHNOLOGY CAN HAVE A MAJOR ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE PRODUCTION OF FOODS AND OTHER MATERIALS. ENZYME TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH GROUP, INC. IS DESIGNING THE DEVELOPING UNIQUE CARRAGEENAN-BASED SUPPORTS FOR IMMOBILIZED ENZYMES. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DESIGN AND DEVELOP A GREATLY IMPROVED IMMOBILIZED FORM OF GLUCOSE ISOMERASE THAT OVERCOMES DEFICIENCIES OF CURRENT PRODUCTS. CARRAGEENAN AND GLUCOSE ISOMERASE WILL BE USED TO PRODUCE A SOPHISTICATED MATERIAL WITH UNIQUE PROPERTIES THAT CAN BE TRANSLATED INTO GREATLY IMPROVED PLANT PERFORMANCE IN THE ISOMERIZATION OF GLUCOSE TO PRODUCE HIGH-FRUCTOSE SYRUP. THE OBJECTIVE IS TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY (AMOUNT OF FRUCTOSE PRODUCED PER UNIT OF ENZYME) AND YIELD UP TO 55% FRUCTOSE. RESEARCH WILL BE CARRIED OUT ON GLUCOSE ISOMERASE IMMOBILIZED ON THREE CARRAGENAN-BASED SUPPORT MATERIALS. THE RESEARCHERS WILL MEASURE THE EFFECTS OF PH AND TEMPERATURE ON THE STABILITY AND ACTIVITY OF THE ENZYME; DETERMINE SENSITIVITY TO O2 INACTIVATION AND CA++ INHIBITION; AND MEASURE THE FRUCTOSE YIELD UNDER OPTIMUM CONDITIONS FOR PRODUCTIVITY.