[Isolation and purification of proteolytic enzymes on organo-silica sorbents with immobilized gramicidin S].

This research involves the development of biospecific sorbents for purification of proteolytic enzymes using the antibiotic gramicidin S attached to organo-silica supports, which has been successfully tested with the purification of pepsin from horse gastric juice and a proteolytic complex produced by a type of fungus.

Understanding Biospecific Sorbents

• Biospecific sorbents are substances that can attract and hold specific molecules and help in their separation from a mixture. In this research, these sorbents are used in the process of affinity chromatography, a method used to separate and purify specific molecules from a mixture.

Role of Gramicidin S

• Gramicidin S is a cyclopeptide antibiotic. In this research, it’s used as the specific molecule to attach to organo-silica supports and create the biospecific sorbents.

Attachment Process

• The process of attaching gramicidin S to the organo-silica supports involves the use of certain agents namely glutaric aldehyde, p-benzoquinone, soluble and insoluble carbodiimides. These agents help in forming a strong bond between gramicidin S and organo-silica supports.

Testing and Application of the Biospecific Sorbents

• The effective and successful application of these biospecific sorbents was evaluated by purifying the crude pepsin from horse gastric juice and proteolytic complex produced by Acremonium chrysogenum. Pepsin is a type of proteolytic enzyme that helps in the digestion of proteins. The proteolytic complex produced by Acremonium chrysogenum implies a group of proteolytic enzymes produced by this fungus.
• The successful purification indicates that the sorbents created in this research can be utilized for the purification of similar proteolytic enzymes.