Preparation of a self-contained NADH co-factor recycling particle system

Master Thesis

2010

Permanent link to this Item
Authors
Journal Title
Link to Journal
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Publisher

University of Cape Town

License
Series
Abstract
Oxidoreductases are interesting enzymes with potential applications in a number of different industries such as the textile, food and feed, chemical and biomedical industries. Oxidoreductases require the use of co-factors. These small molecules are relatively expensive and are required in stoichiometric amounts for their enzymatic reaction; this negatively impacts the economic viability of their potential applications. Several methods have been developed to counteract this problem, the most preferred of which is the enzymatic co-factor recycling method. A few methods for the co-immobilisation of enzymes and co-factors have been developed. These systems are of interest as they offer the advantages of recycling the enzymes together with the co-factor, thereby enabling re-use. The immobilisation of enzymes also provides a platform for improving their stability, activity, specificity and selectivity. Since glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) and NADH oxidase, are industrially relevant co-factor recycling enzymes for NAD(P)H and NAD+ respectively, characterisation of their immobilisation is of interest. The current work describes the use of the proprietary particle technology, termed ReSyn™, for the construction of a self-contained co-factor recycling system. The research included the optimisation of immobilisation for the individual enzymes, followed by the co-immobilisation with subsequent co-factor entrapment. The immobilised enzymes displayed improved thermal and pH stability compared to the non-immobilised enzymes. Immobilised GDH also displayed increased activity over the acidic range when compared to free GDH. The system was shown to be capable of recycling NADH/NAD+ up to at least 142 times with a specific activity of 10.18 U.mg¯1. The system was recovered and recycled with a 77% activity efficiency indicating recovery of the system and reusability. Preparation of a functional self-contained co-factor recycling system was demonstrated consisting of the biological components NADH oxidase and glucose dehydrogenase, immobilised on a polyethylenimine support with entrapped cofactor. This serves as proof-of-principle for the construction of derivative systems that could be used for the development of applications such as efficient biosynthesis, novel biosensors, diagnostic and therapeutic systems.
Description

Includes abstract.


Includes bibliographical references (leaves 101-116).

Keywords

Reference:

Collections