Native and modified glucose oxidase in reversed micelles

The enzymatic activity of the native and modified glucose oxidase (GOx) from Aspergillus niger in the system of reversed micelles of Aerosol OT in octane was investigated. Two forms of the modified enzyme were studied: a hydrophobized form obtained by the attachment of palmitic chains to lysine amino groups by the reaction with palmitic acid ester of N-hydroxysuccinimide and a glycosylated (hydrophilized) form obtained by the attachment of the cellobiose moieties. The native glucose oxidase and its derivatives, while incorporated into micelles in a surfactant concentration range from 0.05 to 0.3 M, display an enzymatic activity, which is comparable with the activity in aqueous solution. The dependence of the enzymatic activity on hydration degree of surfactant (the molar ratio of water to surfactant, W₀) does not indicate the formation of qualitatively new associated forms of the enzyme subunits inside the micelles. The apparent size of Aerosol OT micelles obtained by dynamic light scattering gradually increases from 10±3 nm at low W₀ up to 25±5 nm at high W₀. Incorporation of the native and hydrophobized glucose oxidase into micelles does not affect their mean size. Kinetic analysis shows that the enzyme specificity is about an order of magnitude greater in the system of reversed micelles as compared with aqueous solution.