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Biocatalytic transformation of petroporphyrins by chemical modified cytochrome C
Author(s) -
GarcíaArellano Humberto,
BuenrostroGonzalez Eduardo,
VazquezDuhalt Rafael
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.20023
Subject(s) - chemistry , biocatalysis , ethylene glycol , cumene , organic chemistry , chemical modification , ternary operation , methanol , solvent , asphaltene , catalysis , reaction mechanism , polymer chemistry , computer science , programming language
A semi‐synthetic biocatalyst was prepared by a double chemical modification of cytochrome c. Free amino groups were modified with poly(ethylene glycol) while free carboxylic groups were alkylated to form methyl esters. The double chemically modified protein, PEG‐Cyt‐Met, oxidized synthetic porphyrins in a ternary solvent mixture composed by methylene chloride, methanol, and phosphate buffer. The highest activity was found in the ternary systems with low water content (5%). The use of relatively hydrophobic peroxides, such as tert ‐butyl and cumene hydroperoxides, extended the operational life of the biocatalyst, which, in turn, resulted in an extended oxidation of the substrates tested. PEG‐Cyt‐Met is able to transform asphaltenes, a highly recalcitrant petroleum fraction. The huge energetic resource found as asphaltene‐rich deposits is the driving force to investigate and to innovate upgrading technologies, including biotechnological strategies. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.