Analysis on the Substrate Specificity and Stability of Hansenula polymorpha Alcohol Oxidase

An alcohol oxidase from Hansenula polymorpha was strongly induced when cells were grown with 0.5% methanol supplementation as the carbon source. The induced Hansenula polymorpha alcohol oxidase was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by using DEAE-Sephacel and Mono Q column chromatographys. The enzyme oxidized mainly primary aliphatic alcohols and exhibited high substrate specificity towards ethanol and methanol. The activity of the enzyme optimally proceeded at pH 8.5 and . The midpoint of the temperature-stability curve for the enzyme was approximately and the enzyme was not completely inactivated even at temperature. The enzyme showed resistance toward detergents and highly stable over 7 weeks of storage condition. This Hansenula polymorpha alcohol oxidase may be useful for the enzymatic determination of alcohol and for the industrial production of alcohols and aldehydes.