A New Nanobiocatalytic System Based on Allosteric Effect with Dramatically Enhanced Enzymatic Performance

We report a rational design of CaHPO₄-α-amylase hybrid nanobiocatalytic system based on allosteric effect and an explanation of the increase in catalytic activity when certain enzymes are immobilized in specific nanomaterials. Employing a calcification approach in aqueous solutions, we acquired such new nanobiocatalytic systems with three different morphologies, i.e., nanoflowers, nanoplates, and parallel hexahedrons. Through studying enzymatic performance of these systems and free α-amylase with/without Ca²⁺, we demonstrated how two factors, allosteric regulation and morphology of the as-synthesized nanostructures, predominantly influence enzymatic activity. Benefiting from both the allosteric modulation and its hierarchical structure, CaHPO₄-α-amylase hybrid nanoflowers exhibited dramatically enhanced enzymatic activity. As a bonus, the new system we devised was found to enjoy higher stability and durability than free α-amylase plus Ca²⁺.