Method for enhancing enzyme activity at elevated temperature

Abstract

A method for enhancing activity of enzyme at an elevated temperature which comprises adding a substance exhibiting chaperone function such as a saccharide to a reaction mixture containing the enzyme. The method can improve activity of enzymes more easily and more effectively and hence afford increased enzyme activity at an elevated temperature.

1 . A method for enhancing activity of enzyme in a liquid reaction mixture at a temperature of 45° C. to 110° C., comprising: 
 (a) providing a liquid reaction mixture comprising an enzyme; and    (b) adding to said liquid reaction mixture one or more substances exhibiting chaperone function, wherein: 
 (i) said one or more substances exhibiting chaperone function are selected from the group consisting of: maltose, glucose, sucrose, lactose, xylobiose, agarobiose, cellobiose, levanbiose, quitobiose, 2-β-glucuronosylglucuronic acid, allose, altrose, galactose, gulose, idose, mannose, talose, sorbitol, levulose, xylitol and arabitol; and  
 (ii) said activity enhancement is indicated by the presence of activity measured at a temperature at which said enzyme would normally be heat-inactivated and said activity being higher than the activity that said enzyme would show at a temperature at which said enzyme would normally not be inactivated wherein the reaction is conducted at a temperature of 45° C. to 110° C., and wherein the activity of the enzyme is measured and a substrate is present at a temperature of 45° C. to 110° C.  
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more substances exhibiting chaperone function are selected from the group consisting of: sorbitol, levulose, xylitol or arabitol.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more polyalcohols are added to the liquid reaction mixture.