Bioelectrocatalytic oxidation of glucose by hexose oxidase directly wired to graphite

Abstract

Glucose-oxidizing enzymes are widely used in electrochemical biosensors and biofuel cells; in most applications glucose oxidase, an enzyme with non-covalently bound FAD and low capability of direct electronic communications with electrodes, is used. Here, we show that another glucose-oxidizing enzyme with a covalently bound FAD center, hexose oxidase (HOX), adsorbed on graphite, exhibits a pronounced non-catalytic voltammetric response from its FAD, at −307mV vs. Ag/AgCl, pH 7, characterized by the heterogeneous electron transfer (ET) rate constant of 29.2±4.5s−1. Direct bioelectrocatalytic oxidation of glucose by HOX proceeded, although, with a 350mV overpotential relative to FAD signals, which may be connected with a limiting step in biocatalysis under conditions of the replacement of the natural redox partner, O2, by the electrode; mediated bioelectrocatalysis was consistent with the potentials of a soluble redox mediator used. The results allow development of HOX-based electrochemical biosensors for sugar monitoring and biofuel cells exploiting direct ET of HOX, and, not the least, fundamental studies of ET non-complicated by the loss of FAD from the protein matrix.