Process for the cross-linking of proteins

• US 4,101,380 A
• Filed: 06/11/1976
• Issued: 07/18/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Research Products Rehovot Limited
• Original Assignee: Research Products Rehovot Limited
• Inventors: Rubinstein, Menachem, Bloch, deceased, Rene, Simon, Shulamit
• Primary Examiner(s): Shapiro, Lionel M.
• Application Number:
  US05/695,030
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 195/63, 195/68, 195/DIG.11, 260/112 R, 260/117, 260/122
• US Class Current: 435/181
• CPC Class Codes: C08H 1/00 Macromolecular products derived from proteins food proteins A23; glue, gelatine C09H
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 530/816 Attached to the carrier via a bridging agent

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for the cross-linking of proteins wherein the proteins to be cross-linked are reacted with a cross-linking agent selected from the group consisting of:

(a) water soluble poly(ethylene oxide) derivatives of the general formula I

(z).sub.m --Y--(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2

--Y--(Z)_m(I)

wherein both n and m are at least 1; Y is a covalent bond or is an --R-- or --RO-- radical in which the oxygen is bound to the poly(ethylene oxide) and R is selected from the group consisting of methylene, ethylene, propylene, o--, m-- and p-phenylene, o--, m-- and p-phenylene carbamate optionally substituted by one or more alkyl, aryl, halo, nitro, oxo, carboxy, hydroxy, thio, sulfonate and phosphate groups; and Z is a reactive group selected from the groups consisting of halo-isocyanato-, isothiocyanato-, tosylate, acyl halides, acyl azides, aryl diazonium salts, acyl imidoester salts, activated esters of acyl residues and 2,4-dichlorotriazines; and

(b) activated esters of di- and poly-carboxylic acids wherein the acids and the alcohol moieties thereof are water soluble.

Claims

1. A process for the cross-linking of proteins wherein the proteins to be cross-linked are reacted with a cross-linking agent selected from the group consisting of:

(a) water soluble poly(ethylene oxide) derivatives of the general formula I

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">(z).sub.m --Y--(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --Y--(Z).sub.m (I)

wherein both n and m are at least 1;

Y is a covalent bond or is an --R-- or --RO-- radical in which the oxygen is bound to the poly(ethylene oxide) and R is selected from the group consisting of methylene, ethylene, propylene, o--, m-- and p-phenylene, o--, m-- and p-phenylene carbamate optionally substituted by one or more alkyl, aryl, halo, nitro, oxo, carboxy, hydroxy, thio, sulfonate and phosphate groups; and

Z is a reactive group selected from the groups consisting of haloisocyanato-, isothiocyanato-, tosylate, acyl halides, acyl azides, aryl diazonium salts, acyl imidoester salts, activated esters of acyl residues and 2,4-dichlorotriazines; and

(b) activated esters of di- and poly-carboxylic acids wherein the acids and the alcohol moieties thereof are water soluble, and wherein the alcohols forming the activated esters are selected from the group consisting of N-hydroxysuccinimide, 1-hydroxy benzotriazole, 8-hydroxyquinoline and 2- and 4-thiopyridine.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the proteins to be cross-linked are reacted with a cross-linking agent selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene oxide) derivatives of the general formula I

3. A process according to claim 1 wherein the proteins to be cross-linked are reacted with a cross-linking agent selected from the group consisting of water soluble α

,ω

-dicarboxylic acid derivatives of poly(ethylene oxide) having the general formula II ##STR17## wherein n is at least 1;

Y'"'"' is selected from the groups consisting of

(i) arylene carbamate, optionally substituted by one or more alkyl, aryl, halo and nitro groups

(ii)-(CR₁ R₂)_p O -; and

##STR18## in which p is at least 1, the oxygen is bound to the poly (ethylene oxide) and R₁ and R₂ are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and halogen atoms, nitro, and carboxyl groups and straight and branch chain alkyl and aryl groups optionally substituted by one or more halogen atoms and nitro and carboxyl groups; and

X is halo or azido group or a thio or oxy residue which forms an activated ester with the parent α

,ω

-dicarboxylic acid.

4. A process according to claim 2 wherein the activated esters of formula I are the esters formed with acidic alcohols selected from the group consisting of o- and p-nitrophenol 2,4- dinitrophenol, N-hydroxy-succinimide, N-hydroxyphthalimide, 2- and 4-thiopyridine, 8-hydroxyquinoline and 1-hydroxybenzotriazole.

5. A process according to claim 2 wherein the activated esters are formed with alcohols selected from the group consisting of N-hydroxysuccinimide, 1-hydroxy benzotriazole, 8-hydroxyquinoline and 2- and 4-thiopyridine.

6. A process according to claim 1 wherein the proteins to be cross-linked are reacted with a cross-linking agent selected from the group consisting of diacid salts of diimido alkyl ester derivatives of poly(ethylene oxide) having the general formula III

7. A process according to claim 1 wherein the proteins to be cross-linked are reacted with said activated esters of di and poly-carboxylic acids wherein the acids and the alcohol moieties thereof are water soluble, and wherein the alcohols forming the activated esters are selected from the group consisting of N-hydroxysuccinimide, 1-hydroxy benzotriazole, 8-hydroxyquinoline and 2- and 4-thiopyridine.

8. A process according to claim 7 wherein said acids are selected from the group consisting of tartaric acid, citric acid, malic acid, dimethoxysuccinic acid and trimethoxyglutaric acid.

9. A process according to claim 1 wherein said protein is an enzyme.

10. A process according to claim 9 wherein said enzyme is selected from the group consisting of oxido reductases, hydrolases and isomerases.

11. A process according to claim 1 wherein said cross-linking agent is a di-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of D-tartaric acid.

12. A process according to claim 1 wherein said cross-linking agent is a di-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of poly(ethylene oxide) disuccinate.

13. A process according to claim 1 wherein said cross-linking agent is a di-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of poly(ethylene oxide) diglycolate.

14. A process for the cross-linking of proteins as claimed in claim 1 wherein a solid support material is impregnated with an enzyme solution and then suspended in a solution containing the cross-linking agent.

15. A process according to claim 14 wherein said solid support material is particles adapted for packing in a column.

16. A process according to claim 1 wherein a solution containing said protein is passed through a membrane and said membrane is immersed in a solution of the cross-linking agent.

17. A process according to claim 1 wherein a gelatine membrane is immersed in a solution containing said cross-linking agent.

18. A process for the cross-linking of proteins as claimed in claim 1 wherein en enzyme solution is pressed through the pores of a membrane, and thereafter the enzyme loaded membrane is immersed into a solution of the cross-linking agent.

19. A cross-linked protein produced in accordance with the process of claim 1.

20. A cross-linked protein producted in accordance with the process of claim 2.

21. A cross-linked protein produced in accordance with the process of claim 3.

22. A cross-linked protein produced in accordance with the process of claim 4.

23. A cross-linked protein produced in accordance with the process of claim 5.

24. A cross-linked protein produced in accordance with the process of claim 6.

25. A cross-linked protein produced in accordance with the process of claim 7.

26. A cross linked protein produced in accordance with the process of claim 8.

27. A cross-linked protein produced in accordance with the process of claim 9.

28. A cross-linked protein produced in accordance with the process of claim 10.

29. A cross-linked protein produced in accordance with the process of claim 11.

30. A cross-linked protein produced in accordance with the process of claim 12.

31. A cross-linked protein produced in accordance with the process of claim 13.