Enzymes et micro-organismes aux interfaces : mécanismes physico-chimiques et propriétés

The basic considerations needed to understand the behaviour of enzymes and micro-organisms at interfaces are reviewed and illustrated: particularities of phase boundaries, surface state of real materials, molecular mechanisms controlling macromolecule adsorption and microbial adhesion, effect of adsorption on enzyme activity, competition between macromolecules regarding adsorption, relative importance of sedimentation and diffusion in the approach of macromolecules and bacteria toward a surface, local pH concept and relevance. Experimental difficulties encountered in measuring the activity of adsorbed enzymes are also pointed out. It is further emphasized that purely comparative sets of measurements may be misleading regarding the essential phenomena involved.