Changes in substrate specificity due to mechanical stimulation of gel with enzyme as a cross-linking point

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K21223
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 35:Polymers, organic materials, and related fields
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Yuichiro Kobayashi 大阪大学, 理学研究科, 助教 (10739676)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: ゲル / 酵素 / ロタキサン / 超分子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

I established a gel synthesis method using the enzyme as a cross-linking point. In this process, I found that the catalytic activity of the enzyme decreased due to covalent bond introduction, thus we used a supramolecule called rotaxane, in which a linear molecule penetrates the cavity of a ring molecule, and introduced the enzyme through it as a cross-linking point of the gel, thereby maintaining the catalytic activity of the enzyme better than when covalent bond introduction is performed. The method was established to enable the use of the same technology. The findings of this study on rotaxane formation also led to the discovery of the seeds for the synthesis of supramolecular sulfur polymers and cyclic polymers via double-differential rotaxane formation, which will be developed by the applicant. The cyclic polymer and supramolecular polysulfide polymer synthesis obtained in this research will be developed into biomaterials in the future.

Free Research Field

超分子　高分子　酵素

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

触媒は均一触媒と不均一触媒に大別される。それぞれの利点と欠点は均一触媒は高い触媒活性と分離が困難な点、不均一触媒は分離が簡単な反面、低い触媒活性である。本研究では、ロタキサンを介した修飾法が固体支持体へ修飾する際に、共有結合で直接修飾する従来の方法よりも触媒活性の減少を抑えて、活性を保ったまま就職できることが分かった。工業利用には一般的に不均一触媒が使用されていることから、応用が期待される。