Preparation and characterization of superoxide dismutase soluble in organic solvents

A glycolipid (2C(12)GE) is synthesized with glutamate, dodecanol and gluconolactone and a glycolipid-coated superoxide dismutase (SOD) is prepared by mixing an aqueous solution of the enzyme with the synthetic 2C(12)GE. The glycolipid-enzyme complex (SOD-2C(12)GE) is insoluble in mater but soluble in organic solvents such as ethanol, acetone, glycerin and dioxane. It exhibits a higher activity in some organic solvents such as ethanol than in water and there is an optimum concentration in organic solvent for the catalytic reaction. The SOD-2C(12)GE is more stable against changes in temperature, pH and hydrolysis by protease than the native SOD.