Reversibly soluble enzyme-polymer conjugates

The present invention is directed to a method for producing reversibly soluble, catalytically active enzyme-polymer conjugates and the products thereof. In particular, the invention is directed to reversibly soluble catalytically active enzyme-polymer conjugates made by incorporating enzymes modified to contain free vinyl double bonds into reversibly soluble polymers i.e., polymers that reversibly respond to slight changes in the environment, such as temperature, ionic strength, pH, electric fields, etc., during the polymerization reaction. Thus, when modified enzymes are incorporated into reversibly soluble polymers, the biocatalysts obtained can be precipitated without destroying the delicate enzyme(s). Moreover, these biocatalysts can be solubilized again and reused at the initial environmental conditions.