Immobilization of a thermostable inorganic pyrophosphatase from the archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus onto amino‐functionalized silica beads

This study focuses on the preparation and application of a recombinant thermophilic inorganic pyrophosphatase from the archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus on amino‐functionalized silica beads. The amino‐functionalized silica beads were prepared by coating with 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane by silanization. The thermostable inorganic pyrophosphatase was rapidly and successfully immobilized onto the amino‐functionalized silica beads with glutaraldehyde as a coupling agent (within 12 min, >95.4% protein was immobilized onto the support). The results show that the protein could be immobilized efficiently, with up to 1 mg of protein/g of support with 92.9% activity. Compared with the free enzyme, the immobilized enzyme displayed a high activity toward inorganic pyrophosphate, less sensitivity toward the pH, and increased thermal stability. The immobilized enzyme retained 56.9% of its initial activity after hydrolysis of the inorganic pyrophosphate after 12 consecutive cycles (total = 330 min) at high temperature; this indicated a high protein stability suitable for practical applications. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40700.