The amine transaminase from Chromobacterium violaceum (Cv-ATA) is a well-known enzyme to achievechiral amines of high enantiomeric excess in laboratory scales. However, the low operational stabilityof Cv-ATA limits the enzyme applicability on larger scales. In order to improve the operational stabilityof Cv-ATA, and thereby extending its applicability, factors (additives, co-solvents, organic solvents anddifferent temperatures) targeting enzyme stability and activity were explored in order to find out how tostore and apply the enzyme. The present investigation shows that the melting point of Cv-ATA is improvedby adding sucrose or glycerol, separately. Further, by storing the enzyme at higher concentrations and inco-solvents, such as; 50% glycerol, 20% methanol or 10% DMSO, the active dimeric structure of Cv-ATAis retained. Enzyme stored in 50% glycerol at −20◦C was e.g., still fully active after 6 months. Finally,the enzyme performance was improved 5-fold by a co-lyophilization with surfactants prior to usage inisooctane.

The amine transaminase from Chromobacterium violaceum (Cv-ATA) is a pyridoxal-5’-phosphate (PLP)dependent enzyme. The biological activity of this enzyme requires the formation of a holo homo dimer.The operational stability of Cv-ATA is, however, low due to dimer dissociation. At the enzyme dimeric interface, two phosphate group binding cups (PGBC) are located. Each cup coordinates the phosphate group of PLP by hydrogen bonds originating from both subunits. Hypothetically, molecular coordination of phosphate groups (PLP or free inorganic phosphate) into the PGBC can affect both dimer stabilization and enzyme activity. To test this assumption, the influence of phosphate (as a functional group in PLP or as free inorganic anions) on the stability and activity of Cv-ATA was explored by various biophysical techniques. The results show that Cv-ATA has a relatively low affinity towards PLP, which results in an excess of apo dimeric enzyme after enzyme purification. Incubation of the apo dimer in buffer solution supplemented with PLP restored the active holo dimer. The addition of PLP or inorganic phosphate into the enzyme storage solutions protected Cv-ATA from both chemical and long term storage unfolding. The use of phosphate buffer leads to faster inactivation of the holo enzyme, compared to the use of HEPES buffer. These results open up for new perspectives on how to improve the stability of PLP-dependent enzymes.