Effect of glycerol, polyethylene glycol and glutaraldehyde on stability of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity in yeast

Abstract

The polyhydric alcohols, glycerol and sorbitol, significantly increased the rate of l-phenylalanine production from trans-cinnamic acid using whole cells of Rhodotorula rubra. Chloride ions and oxygen prevented the stimulatory effect of the polyhydric alcohols. Furthermore, the severe inhibition, of the biotransformation by high trans-cinnamic acid concentrations was alleviated in the presence of glycerol, and sorbitol. The rate of conversion could be manipulated still further, even with high trnas-cinnamic acid concentrations, by elevating the reaction pH to, 12 in the presence of polyhydric alcohol. When cells were also treated first with glutaradehyde (0.1% v/v) and then polyethylene glycol (15% v/v), although neither compound stimulated the actual rate of bioconversion, the reaction was markedly stabilised and gave a 73% yield after 28 days of continuous operation. © 1987 Society for Industrial Microbiology.