Permeabilization of Ochrobactrum anthropi SY509 cells with organic solvents for whole cell biocatalyst

Permeabilization is known to overcome cell membrane barriers of whole cell biocatalysts. The use of organic solvents is advantageous in terms of cost, simplicity, and efficiency. In this study, Ochrobactrum anthropi SY509 was permeabilized with various organic solvents. Treatment with organic solvents resulted in lower permeability barriers due to falling out lipids of the cell membrane. Therefore, permeabilized cells showed higher enzyme activity with no cell viability. Among various organic solvents, 0.5% (v/v) chloroform was selected as the most efficient permeabilizing reagent. Changes in the cell membrane structure were observed and the residual amounts of phospholipids of the cell membrane were measured to investigate the mechanism of the improved permeability.