Stabilization of lysozyme by benzyl alcohol: surface tension and thermodynamic parameters.

The aim of the study was to understand the effect of benzyl alcohol on biological activity, aggregation behavior, denaturant and heat-induced unfolding of lysozyme. Compatibility studies of lysozyme carried out with a number of anti-microbial preservatives, indicated benzyl alcohol to be the best suppressor of protein aggregation against heat stress. The effect of this preservative was checked at various pH values ranging from 4.0 to 9.0. In spite of reducing the thermal denaturation temperature (T(m)) at all pH values, benzyl alcohol had a stabilizing effect on lysozyme in terms of retaining the biological activity when the enzyme was incubated at 75 degrees C. The reduction in T(m) with increasing benzyl alcohol concentration was correlated with decreasing surface tension of surrounding medium. A detailed thermodynamic study of lysozyme in the presence of benzyl alcohol was carried out at pH 6.2. Change in Gibb's free energy of thermal unfolding at 25 degrees C was found to remain constant in the presence of benzyl alcohol, indicating no interaction of benzyl alcohol with the native protein at room temperature. Both the enthalpy and entropy change at mid point of thermal unfolding were found to increase in the presence of benzyl alcohol indicating the stabilization of partially unfolded state.