Enzymatic Oxygen Reduction Research Articles

Anthracene Modified Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes as Direct Electron Transfer Scaffolds of Enzymatic Oxygen Reduction

not Available.

Anthracene-Modified Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes as Direct Electron Transfer Scaffolds for Enzymatic Oxygen Reduction

The development of new methods to facilitate direct electron transfer (DET) between enzymes and electrodes is of much interest because of the desire for stable biofuel cells that produce significant amounts of power. In this study, hydroxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were covalently modified with anthracene groups to help orient the active sites of laccase to allow for DET. The onset of the catalytic oxygen reduction current for these biocathodes occurred near the potential of the T1 active site of laccase, and optimized biocathodes produced background-subtracted current densities up to 140 μA/cm2. Potentiostatic and galvanostatic stability measurements of the biocathodes revealed losses of 25% and 30%, respectively, after 24 h of constant operation. Finally, the novel biocathodes were utilized in biofuel cells employing two different anodic enzymes. A compartmentalized cell using a mediated glucose oxidase anode produced an open circuit voltage of 0.819 ± 0.022 V, a maximum power density o...

Direct electron transfer catalyzed by bilirubin oxidase for air breathing gas-diffusion electrodes

A gas-diffusion electrode based on hydrophobized carbon black composite for enhanced enzymatic oxygen reduction is presented for the possible application as a biocathode in enzymatic fuel cells. Immobilized bilirubin oxidase (BOD) from Myrothecium verrucaria reduces oxygen in a 4-electron mechanism, as shown by Tafel kinetics and shows evidence of direct electron transfer. Under air-breathing conditions the galvanostatic polarization results in an open circuit potential of + 0.65 V (vs. Ag/AgCl, pH 7) and in + 0.5 V at an applied current density of 0.35 mA cm −2 which is 3 times higher compared to aqueous oxygen supply.

Identification of a Radical Intermediate in the Enzymatic Reduction of Oxygen by a Small Laccase

The enzyme mechanism of the Cu-containing small laccase (SLAC) from Streptomyces coelicolor has been investigated by optical and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. A new intermediate was identified after the reaction of molecular oxygen with the reduced trinuclear site of the type-1-depleted (T1D) form of the enzyme. It has the fingerprint of a biradical with a triplet ground state. One of the spins resides on a Cu in the trinuclear site, tentatively identified as the type-2 site, while the other spin derives from a protein-based radical. The latter is tentatively identified as a tyrosyl radical on the basis of the similarity of the optical characteristics with those observed for a Cu tyrosyl radical pair. The spin-spin distance was found to be 5.0 +/- 0.2 A.

Oxygen-reducing electrodes based on layer-by-layer assemblies of cytochrome c and laccasse

Electroactive multilayer assemblies combining the redox protein cytochrome c and the enzyme laccase were fabricated by the layer-by-layer adsorption technique on gold electrodes and were shown to be capable of direct oxygen reduction. Laccase from trametes versicolor was electrostatically immobilized on multilayer films consisting of cytochrome c and the polyelectrolyte polyanilinesulfonic acid. The layer formation was monitored by quartz crystal microbalance. The electrochemical behavior of the electrodes was investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The resulting assembly exhibited a catalytic oxygen reduction current. This indicates a multi-step electron transport chain from the electrode via the cytochrome c layers towards laccase, and finally, to molecular oxygen. The catalytic efficiency of the electrodes was examined in the pH range from 4.5 to 7.0, showing highest enzymatic oxygen reduction at pH 4.5. Furthermore, the catalytic current was found to correlate linearly with the oxygen content of the solution. This suggests that the overall current is limited by the catalytic reduction of oxygen by the laccase rather than by the preceding electron transfer steps.

Rate-Limiting Steps of Tyrosinase-Modified Electrodes for the Detection of Catechol

The response currents obtained for tyrosinase-modified Teflon/graphite, carbon paste, and solid graphite electrodes in the presence of catechol are analyzed primarily using rotating disk electrode experiments. The rate-limiting steps, such as the electrochemical reduction of o-quinones and the enzymatic reduction of oxygen as well as the enzymatic oxidation of catechol, are theoretically considered and experimentally demonstrated for the different electrode configurations.

Electrically ‘wired’ tyrosinase enzyme inhibition electrode for the detection of respiratory poisons

AbstractThe use of the solution redox species, [Os(bpy)2Cl2]+/0, [Os(bpy)2(MeIm)Cl]2+/+ and [Fe(CN)6]4−/3−, where bpy is 2,2‐bipyridine and MeIm is N‐methylimidazole, as electron mediators in the enzymatic reduction of oxygen by tyrosinase is investigated. Co‐immobilization of both enzyme and an osmium redox mediator in a hydrogel on glassy carbon electrodes results in a biosensor for the ‘reagentless’ addressing of enzyme activity, consuming only oxygen present in solution. Immobilized enzyme inhibition biosensors can thus be constructed for the detection of tyrosinase inhibitors, such as sodium azide, using this approach. The enzyme inhibition biosensor can detect levels of azide as low as 5 × 10−6 mol dm−3 in solution and may be useful in environmental monitoring applications and as an early warning poison sensor.