Correlation between thermostability and stability of glycosidases in ionic liquid

The activity and stability of a beta-glycosidase (Thermus thermophilus) and two alpha-galactosidases (Thermotoga maritima and Bacillus stearothermophilus) were studied in different hydrophilic ionic liquid (IL)/water ratios. For the ILs used, the glycosidases showed the best stability and activity in 1,3-dimethylimidazolium methyl sulfate [MMIM][MeSO(4)] and 1,2,3-trimethylimidazolium methyl sulfate [TMIM] [MeSO(4)]. A close correlation was observed between the thermostability of the enzymes and their stability in IL media. At high IL concentration (80%), a time-dependent irreversible denaturing effect was observed on glycosidases while, at lower concentration (<30%), a reversible inactivation affecting mainly the k(cat) was obtained. The results demonstrate that highly thermostable glycosidases are more suitable for biocatalytic reactions in water-miscible ILs.