Denaturation lyoprotectants

Lyoprotectants can affect enzyme stability in both stages of lyophilization the freezing and the drying stages. In the freezing stage of lyophilization, ice crystals form and have been shown to be a cause of enzyme denaturation. Studies have shown that when added as a lyoprotectant, the amorphous polyol mannitol stabi-... 

When 18-crown-6 was co-lyophilized with a-chymotrypsin, a 470-fold activation was seen over the free enzyme in the transesterification of APEE with 1-propanol in cyclohexane (Scheme 3.2) [96]. There was a low apparent specificity for the size and macrocyclic nature of the crown ether additives, suggesting that, during lyophilization, 18-crown-6 protects the overall native conformation and acts as a lyoprotectant. To examine this global effect, FTIR was used to examine the effect of crown ethers on the secondary structure of enzymes. In one study [98], subtilisin Carlsberg was shown to retain its secondary structure in 1,4-dioxane when lyophi-lized in a 1 1 ratio with 18-crown-6. In addition, examination of FTIR spectra from varying incubation temperatures indicated that an increase in crown ether content in the final enzyme preparation resulted in a decreased denaturation temperature in the solvent, indicating a more flexible protein structure. 

During lyophilisation of any protein formulation, there is a need to include a lyoprotectant such as polyols to prevent freeze-drying-induced denaturation. 

Denaturation during the drying process may be prevented ( lyoprotection ) ... 

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