NONAQUEOUS HIGHLY ACTIVE ENZYME

PURPOSE:To obtain an enzyme capable of carrying out reaction, such as ester or peptide synthesis, in high yield in a nonaqueous system, by dispersing a lipid in a buffer solution containing the enzyme dissolved therein and cooling the resultant dispersion. CONSTITUTION:A hydrolase, such as lipase, is dissolved in a buffer solution at pH 5.0-7.0 and a lipid, such as monogalactosyldiglyceride, alone or a solution thereof dissolved in a hydrophilic organic solvent, buffer solution, etc., is dripped thereon while cooling and dispersed by a stirrer, ultrasonic waves, etc. After sufficient dispersion, cooling is carried out to deposit and precipitate the resultant enzyme-lipid complex. The obtained precipitates are subsequently separated by centrifugation, etc., and washed with a buffer solution and then distilled water, directly subjected to treatment, such as freeze-drying, to afford the aimed powdery nonaqueous highly active enzyme. The lipid is preferably mixed with the enzyme at a solid weight ratio (lipid weight/enzyme weight) within the range of 0.2-100.