# US 5,707,842 A · Method for regulating enzyme activities by noble gases

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- Number: US 5,707,842 A
- Document ID: US5707842A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/445,525
- Filed: 1995-05-22
- Granted: 1998-01-13
- Earliest claimed: 1991-05-28
- Assignees: American Air Liquide, Chicago Research Center
- Inventors: Kevin C. Spencer; Pascal Schvester; Christine E. Boisrobert
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5707842A

## CPC

- C12N 9/0004: {Oxidoreductases (1.)}
- C12N 9/00: Enzymes; Proenzymes; Compositions thereof (preparations containing enzymes for cleaning teeth A61K8/66, A61Q11/00; medicinal preparations containing enzymes or proenzymes A61K38/43; enzyme containing detergent compositions C11D; {enzymes with nucleic acid structure, e.g. ribozymes, C12N15/113}); Processes for preparing, activating, inhibiting, separating or purifying enzymes (preparation of malt C12C1/00)
- C12N 9/10: Transferases (2.) (ribonucleases C12N9/22)
- C12N 9/14: Hydrolases (3)
- C12N 9/88: Lyases (4.)
- C12N 9/90: Isomerases (5.)
- C12N 9/99: Enzyme inactivation by chemical treatment
- C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00)

## Abstract

A method for regulating enzyme activity, which entails contacting one or more enzymes with a gas containing one or more noble gases or mixtures thereof.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for using an enzyme to act on a substrate therefor in a liquid medium, which enzyme activity is regulated by causing an atmosphere surrounding said liquid medium to undergo a transition from being an enzyme activity inhibitor to an enzyme activity enhancer or vice versa, relative to when air is used as said atmosphere, by a change in temperature, which method comprises contacting at least one enzyme selected from the group consisting of oxidoreductases, lyases, isomerases and ligases, with the substrate therefor in said liquid medium, and during at least part of said contacting, contacting said at least one enzyme with an amount to so regulate said enzyme activity of said atmosphere, which consists essentially of argon, neon, xenon, krypton or a mixture thereof, at a temperature effective to cause said transition, and at a pressure of up to about 3 atmospheres.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more enzymes are regulated by causing said atmosphere to undergo a transition from being an enzyme activity inhibitor to an enzyme activity enhancer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein in a mixture enzymes, the enzymatic activity of one or more enzymes therein is regulated by causing said atmosphere to undergo a transition from being an enzyme activity inhibitor to an enzyme activity enhancer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more enzymes are regulated by causing said atmosphere to undergo a transition from being an enzyme activity enhancer to an enzyme activity inhibitor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more enzymes are in solution, in immobilized form, in a dispersion or in an organic matrix.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said regulation is effected at a temperature of from about 20.degree. C. to about 60.degree. C.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said regulation is effected at a gas pressure of from about 10.sup.-3 atmospheres to about 2 atmospheres.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein said regulation is effected at a gas pressure of from about 10.sup.-2 atmospheres to about 2 atmospheres.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more enzymes are oxidoreductases.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more enzymes are lyases.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more enzymes are transferases.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more enzymes are isomerases.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more enzymes are ligases.