Immobilized enzyme catalysis with reaction‐generated pH change

Abstract
Many enzyme‐catalyzed reactions involve the liberation or consumption of hydrogen ions. In this paper a mathematical model is employed to investigate how such reactions behave when the enzyme is immobilized. Shifted pH optima, disappearance of an optimum pH, insensitivity to bulk pH, and very large effectiveness factors are some of the phenomena which appear as a result of pH coupling between the reaction and the enzyme's activity. Several of the qualitative features revealed by the model are consistent with earlier experimental observations. In addition, preliminary guidelines for optimal choice of enzyme support are suggested.