A preliminary study of a biosensor based on flow injection of the recognition element

A biosensor based on flow injection of the recognition element has been developed. As a model a pH-transducer was used, and urease was chosen as the recognition element. The pH-transducer was immersed in an internal flow-through chamber which was in contact with the sample solution via a semi-permeable membrane. The recognition element, urease, was injected into the buffer solution passing through the biosensor. The enzyme catalysed the hydrolysis of urea and the concomitant increase in pH was recorded. The biosensor response time was about three minutes at a constant flow rate of 0·05 ml/min. The linear range of the calibration curve of the biosensor was 0–5 mM. The observed detection limit was approximately 0.1 mM. The sample throughput was 6–12 per hour. The pH-response of the biosensor, for a sample solution containing urea (3·26 mM), showed a reproducibility (r.s.d) of 28% (n = 5) and a repeatability (r.s.d.) of 8% (n = 5). Operation at elevated temperatures (up to 50°C) was demonstrated. The presence of glucose (28 mM), acetone (6·7 mM), citric acid (0·2 mM) or sodium acetate (0·6 mM) in the sample solution did not interfere with the sensor response. A lowering of the biosensor response which was observed in the presence of copper ions (due to urease inhibition) could be completely eliminated by adding EDTA to the urease solution. Thus, this work demonstrates a new type of biosensors, based on SIRE-technology (Sensors with Injectable Recognition Elements), which show high accuracy and stability, quick response and high sample throughput. These features suggest the suitability of the system for automation. Such sensors should readily be combined with other enzymes or enzyme systems. The enzyme (urease) cost per analysis (injection) for the biosensor was estimated to be approximately US$0·02. This could be substantially reduced by further optimisation and miniaturisation.     

Double-ternary complex affinity chromatography: preparation of alcohol dehydrogenases.

A general affinity chromatographic method for alcohol dehydrogenase purification has been developed by employing immobilized 4-substituted pyrazole derivatives that isolate the enzyme through formation of a specific ternary complex. Sepharose 4B is activated with 300 mg of cyanogen bromide/ml of packed gel and coupled to 4-[3-(N-6-aminocaproyl)aminopropyl]pyrazole. From crude liver extracts in 50 mM phosphate-0.37 mM nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, pH 7.5, alcohol dehydrogenase is optimally bound at a capacity of 4-5 mg of enzyme/ml of gel. Addition of ethanol, propanol, or butanol, 500 mM, results in the formation of a second ternary complex, which allows the elution of bound enzyme in high yield and purity. This double-ternary complex affinity chromatography has been applied successfully to human, horse, rat, and rabbit liver extracts to isolate the respective homogeneous alcohol dehydrogenases.     

Alcohol biosensing by polyamidoamine (PAMAM)/cysteamine/alcohol oxidase‐modified gold electrode

A highly stable and sensitive amperometric alcohol biosensor was developed by immobilizing alcohol oxidase (AOX) through Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers on a cysteamine‐modified gold electrode surface. Ethanol determination is based on the consumption of dissolved oxygen content due to the enzymatic reaction. The decrease in oxygen level was monitored at ?0.7 V vs. Ag/AgCl and correlated with ethanol concentration. Optimization of variables affecting the system was performed. The optimized ethanol biosensor showed a wide linearity from 0.025 to 1.0 mM with 100 s response time and detection limit of (LOD) 0.016 mM. In the characterization studies, besides linearity some parameters such as operational and storage stability, reproducibility, repeatability, and substrate specificity were studied in detail. Stability studies showed a good preservation of the bioanalytical properties of the sensor, 67% of its initial sensitivity was kept after 1 month storage at 4°C. The analytical characteristics of the system were also evaluated for alcohol determination in flow injection analysis (FIA) mode. Finally, proposed biosensor was applied for ethanol analysis in various alcoholic beverage as well as offline monitoring of alcohol production through the yeast cultivation. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2010     

Application of a biosensor for monitoring of ethanol

An alcohol biosensor for the measurement of ethanol has been developed. It comprises an alcohol oxidase/chitosan immobilized eggshell membrane and a commercial oxygen sensor. Ethanol determination is based on the depletion of dissolved oxygen content upon exposure to ethanol solution. The decrease in oxygen level was monitored and related to the ethanol concentration. The biosensor response depends linearly on ethanol concentration between 60 microM and 0.80 mM with a detection limit of 30 microM (S/N=3) and 1 min response time. In the optimization studies of the enzyme biosensor the most suitable enzyme and chitosan amounts were found to be 1.0 mg and 0.30% (w/v), respectively. The phosphate buffer (pH 7.4, 25 mM) and room temperature (20-25 degrees C) were chosen as the optimum working conditions. In the characterization studies of the ethanol biosensor some parameters such as interference effects, operational and storage stability were studied in detail. The biosensor was also tested with various wine samples. The results of this newly developed biosensor were comparable to the results obtained by a gas chromatographic method.     

Rapid and convenient determination of oxalic acid employing a novel oxalate biosensor based on oxalate oxidase and SIRE technology

A new method for rapid determination of oxalic acid was developed using oxalate oxidase and a biosensor based on SIRE (sensors based on injection of the recognition element) technology. The method was selective, simple, fast, and cheap compared with other present detection systems for oxalate. The total analysis time for each assay was 2-9 min. A linear range was observed between 0 and 5 mM when the reaction conditions were 30 degrees C and 60 s. The linear range and upper limit for concentration determination could be increased to 25 mM by shortening the reaction time. The lower limit of detection in standard solutions, 20 microM, could be achieved by means of modification of the reaction conditions, namely increasing the temperature and the reaction time. The biosensor method was compared with a conventional commercially available colorimetric method with respect to the determination of oxalic acid in urine samples. The urine oxalic acid concentrations determined with the biosensor method correlated well (R=0.952) with the colorimetric method.     

Electrogenerated chemiluminescence biosensor with alcohol dehydrogenase and tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium (II) immobilized in sol-gel hybrid material

An ethanol biosensor based on electrogenerated chemiluminescence detection was developed. Electrogenerated chemiluminescence reagent tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium (II) and alcohol dehydrogenase were immobilized in the same sol-gel hybrid film. The copolymer poly(vinyl alcohol) with 4-vinylpyridine and cation exchanger Nafion were incorporated into sol-gel film to provide the microenvironment for retaining the activity of enzyme and immobilize tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium (II). The design was simpler than the previous two-layer format. The experimental conditions, such as scan rate, pH and concentration of the cofactor were investigated. The intensity of electrogenerated chemiluminescence increased linearly with ethanol concentration from 2.5x10(-5) to 5.0x10(-2) M and detection limit was 1.0x10(-5) M. The prepared biosensor exhibited high sensitivity, wide linear range and good stability.     

Effect of intersubunit interaction in horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase on the kinetics of ethanol oxidation]

The kinetics of enzymatic oxidation of ethanol in the presence of alcohol dehydrogenase within a wide range of ethanol and NAD concentrations (pH 6.0--11.5) were studied. It was shown that high concentrations of ethanol (greater than 0.7--5 mM, depending on pH) and NAD (greater than 0.4--0.8 mM) activate alcohol dehydrogenase from horse liver within the pH range of 6.0--7.9. A mechanism of activation based on negative cooperativity of ADH subunits for binding of ethanol and NAD was proposed. The catalytic and Michaelis constants for alcohol dehydrogenase were calculated from ethanol and NAD at all pH values studied. The changes resulting from the subunit cooperativity were revealed. The nature of ionogenic groups of alcohol dehydrogenase, which affect the formation of complexes between the enzyme and NAD and ethanol, and the rate constants for catalytic oxidation of ethanol was assumed. The biological significance of the enzyme capacity for activation by high concentrations of ethanol within the physiological range of pH in the blood under excessive use of alcohol is discussed.     

Production of essential L-branched-chain amino acids in bioreactors containing artificial cells immobilized multienzyme systems and dextran-NAD+

We prepared artificial cells each containing leucine dehydrogenase (EC 1.4.1.9), urease (EC 3.5.1.5), soluble dextran-NAD(+), and one of the following coenzyme regenerating dehydrogenases: glucose dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.47); yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1); malate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.37); or lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27). Artificial cells were packed in small columns. L-Leucine, L-valine, and L-isoleucine were continuously produced with simultaneous dextran-NADH regeneration. The maximum production ratios depended on the coenzyme regenerating systems used: 83-93% for D-glucose and glucose dehydrogenase system; 90% for ethanol and yeast alcohol dehydrogenase system; 45-55% for L-malate and malate dehydrogenase system; and 64-78% for L-lactate and lactate dehydrogenase system. Kinetic experiments were also carried out. The apparent K(m) values are as follows: 0.33 mM for alpha-ketoisocaproate (KIC); 0.51 mM for alpha-ketoisovalerate (KIV); 0.58 mM for DL-alpha-keto-beta-methyl-n-valerate (KMV); 3.52 mM for urea; 27.82 mM for D-glucose; 3.89 mM for ethanol; 3.02 mM for L-malate; and 16.67 mM for L-lactate. Kinetic analysis showed that KIC, KIV, and KMV were all competitive inhibitors in the reactions catalyzed by leucine dehydrogenase. Their inhibitor constants were the corresponding K(m) values.     

Purification and molecular properties of mouse alcohol dehydrogenase isozymes

Alcohol dehydrogenase isozymes from mouse liver (A2 and B2) and stomach (C2) tissues have been purified to homogeneity using triazine-dye affinity chromatography. The enzymes are dimers with similar but distinct subunit sizes, as determined by SDS/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis: A, 43000; B, 39000, and C, 47000. Zinc analyses and 1,10-phenanthroline inhibition studies indicated that the A and C subunits each contained two atoms of zinc, with at least one being involved catalytically, whereas the B subunit probably contained a single non-catalytic zinc atom. The isozymes exhibited widely divergent kinetic characteristics. A2 exhibited a Km value for ethanol of 0.15 mM and a broad substrate specificity, with Km values decreasing dramatically with an increase in chain length; C2 also exhibited this broad specificity for alcohols but showed a Km value of 232 mM for ethanol. These isozymes also showed broad substrate specificities as aldehyde reductases. In contrast, B2 showed no detectable activity as an aldehyde reductase for the aldehydes examined, and used ethanol as substrate only at very high concentrations (greater than 0.5 M). The isozyme exhibited low Km and high Vmax values, however, with medium-chain alcohols. Immunological studies showed that A2 was immunologically distinct from the B2 and C2 isozymes. In vitro molecular hybridization studies gave no evidence for association between the alcohol dehydrogenase subunits. The results confirm genetic analyses [Holmes, Albanese, Whitehead and Duley (1981) J. Exp. Zool. 215, 151-157] which are consistent with at least three structural genes encoding alcohol dehydrogenase in the mouse and confirm the role of the major liver isozyme (A2) in ethanol metabolism.     

Disruption of circulation by ethanol promotes fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) in medaka (Oryzias latipes) embryogenesis

Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) embryos exposed to ethanol have developed craniofacial, cardiovascular and skeletal defects which can be compared with the phenotypic features of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) observed in human. The present experiment was designed to show that the disruption in circulation by ethanol during embryogenesis is a potential cause of FASD. Fertilized eggs were exposed to ethanol (0, 100 and/or 400 mM) for 24 or 48 h at various developmental stages (Iwamatsu stages 4-30) and were analyzed at 6 day post fertilization (dpf). It was observed that controls and the embryos exposed to 100 mM ethanol were in circulating state; however, a significant number of embryos of stages 4-24 exposed to 400 mM ethanol had disrupted circulation. Compared to controls, protein and RNA contents were significantly reduced in non-circulating embryos. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) analysis was made at 3, 6, 24, 48, 96 and 144 hour post fertilization (hpf). LPO was increased with the advancement of morphogenesis; however, ethanol or the circulation status had no effect. We further analyzed alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh 5 and adh8) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (Aldh9A and Aldh1A2) enzyme mRNAs in the embryos exposed to 400 mM ethanol for 24 h. A developmental stage-specific reduction in these enzyme mRNAs by ethanol was observed. We conclude that ethanol-induced disruption in circulation during embryogenesis is a potential cause of the development of FASD features in medaka.     

Coproduction of acetaldehyde and hydrogen during glucose fermentation by Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli K-12 strain MG1655 was engineered to coproduce acetaldehyde and hydrogen during glucose fermentation by the use of exogenous acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) reductase (for the conversion of acetyl-CoA to acetaldehyde) and the native formate hydrogen lyase. A putative acetaldehyde dehydrogenase/acetyl-CoA reductase from Salmonella enterica (SeEutE) was cloned, produced at high levels, and purified by nickel affinity chromatography. In vitro assays showed that this enzyme had both acetaldehyde dehydrogenase activity (68.07 ± 1.63 μmol min(-1) mg(-1)) and the desired acetyl-CoA reductase activity (49.23 ± 2.88 μmol min(-1) mg(-1)). The eutE gene was engineered into an E. coli mutant lacking native glucose fermentation pathways (ΔadhE, ΔackA-pta, ΔldhA, and ΔfrdC). The engineered strain (ZH88) produced 4.91 ± 0.29 mM acetaldehyde while consuming 11.05 mM glucose but also produced 6.44 ± 0.26 mM ethanol. Studies showed that ethanol was produced by an unknown alcohol dehydrogenase(s) that converted the acetaldehyde produced by SeEutE to ethanol. Allyl alcohol was used to select for mutants with reduced alcohol dehydrogenase activity. Three allyl alcohol-resistant mutants were isolated; all produced more acetaldehyde and less ethanol than ZH88. It was also found that modifying the growth medium by adding 1 g of yeast extract/liter and lowering the pH to 6.0 further increased the coproduction of acetaldehyde and hydrogen. Under optimal conditions, strain ZH136 converted glucose to acetaldehyde and hydrogen in a 1:1 ratio with a specific acetaldehyde production rate of 0.68 ± 0.20 g h(-1) g(-1) dry cell weight and at 86% of the maximum theoretical yield. This specific production rate is the highest reported thus far and is promising for industrial application. The possibility of a more efficient "no-distill" ethanol fermentation procedure based on the coproduction of acetaldehyde and hydrogen is discussed.     

Development of a xylitol biosensor composed of xylitol dehydrogenase and diaphorase

In preparation for the development of a xylitol biosensor, the xylitol dehydrogenase of Candida tropicalis IFO 0618 was partially purified and characterized. The optimal pH and temperature of the xylitol dehydrogenase were pH 8.0 and 50 degrees C, respectively. Of the various alcohols tested, xylitol was the most rapidly oxidized, with sorbitol and ribitol being reduced at 65% and 58% of the xylitol rate. The enzyme was completely inactive on arabitol, xylose, glucose, glycerol, and ethanol. The enzyme's xylitol oxidation favored the use of NAD+ (7.9 U/mg) over NADP+ (0.2 U/mg) as electron acceptor, while the reverse reaction, D-xylulose reduction, favored NADPH (7.7 U/mg) over NADH (0.2 U/mg) as electron donor. The K(m) values for xylitol and NAD+ were 49.8 mM and 38.2 microM, respectively. For the generation of the xylitol biosensor, the above xylitol dehydrogenase and a diaphorase were immobilized on bromocyan-activated sephallose. The gel was then attached on a dissolved oxygen electrode. In the presence of vitamin K3, NAD+ and phosphate buffer, the biosensor recorded a linear response to xylitol concentration up to 3 mM. The reaction was stable after 15 min. When the biosensor was applied to a flow injection system, optimal operation pH and temperature were 8.0 and 30 degrees C, respectively. The strengths and limitations of the xylitol biosensor are its high affinity for NAD+, slow reaction time, narrow linear range of detection, and moderate affinity for xylitol.     

Monitoring of ethanol during fermentation of a lignocellulose hydrolysate by on-line microdialysis sampling, column liquid chromatography, and an alcohol biosensor

During a 70-h fermentation of a lignocellulose hydrolysate, the ethanol produced was monitored on-line using a microdialysis probe as an in situ sampling device. The dialysate components were then separated in a column liquid chromatographic system and the ethanol was selectively detected by an amperometric alcohol biosensor. The result was compared with two off-line analysis methods: one chromatographic method with refractive index (RI) detection and one enzymatic method based on spectrophotometric detection. The two methods base on enzymes were shown to give lower values than the chromatographic method based on RI detection, which is discussed n terms of selectivity. The investigated on-line setup was found to be a flexible system for monitoring of fermentations, allowing a sampling frequency of at least 12 h(-1) and with a delay between sampling and detection of less than 5 min. (c) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Ethanol metabolism and lipid synthesis by isolated liver cells from fed rats.

1. The fatty acid synthesis in isolated liver cells from fed rats was studied with tritiated water as the radioactive precursor. The cells incorporated 3H20 at a rate of 1.26 mumol per min per g packed cells. 2. Addition of ethanol caused a 20% decrease in the incorporation of tritium into fatty acids. The decrease was correlated to the increase in the NAD-redox level. Probably, the decreased tritium incorporation into fatty acids during ethanol metabolism is due to a decrease in the specific activity of the NADPH used for the synthesis of fatty acids, rather than to a real inhibition of the fatty acid synthesis. 3. Ethanol oxidation via NADPH-consuming pathways and ethanol per se at a concentration of 80 mM had no effect upon the incorporation of tritium into fatty acids. 4. Fructose in a concentration of 15 mM inhibited the fatty acid synthesis by 75%, and this inhibition was further augmented by ethanol. 5. The ioslated rat liver cells oxidized ethanol at a rate of 2.72, 2.93 and 3.48 mumol per min per g packed cells at 5, 20 and 80 mM ethanol, respectively. Fructose had no effect upon ethanol oxidation neither at low nor at high concentrations of ethanol. 6. Ethanol oxidation via the non alcohol dehydrogenase pathway(s) may involve a transfer of reducing equivalents from mitochondrial NADH to cyctosolic NADP+ as judged from measurements of metabolite levels. This conclusion is supported by determinations of 14C yield in glucose from [1-14C] ethanol, and the results are taken as evidence for the presence of hydrogen shuttle activity during metabolism of ethanol, catalyzed by the NAD-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase. A metabolic scheme is proposed to account for the observed changes at low and high concentrations of ethanol.     

Significant pathways of hepatic ethanol metabolism.

Rat liver microsomes oxidized ethanol two to three times faster than propanol when incubated with either an NADPH- or an H2O2-generating system. In addition, solubilized, purified microsomal subfractions were found to contain protein with an electrophoretic mobility identical to rat liver catalase on SDS polyacrylamide gels, suggesting that the separation of catalase from cytochrome P-450 and other microsomal components may not be feasible. These data support the postulate that catalase is responsible for NADPH-dependent microsomal ethanol oxidation. Direct read-out techniques for pyridine nucleotides, the catalase-H2O2 complex, and cytochrome P-450 were utilized to evaluate the specificity of inhibitors of alcohol dehydrogenase (4-methylpyrazole; 4 mM) and catalase (aminotriazole; 1.0 g/kg) qualitatively in perfused rat livers. 4-Methylpyrazole and aminotriazole are specific inhibitors for alcohol dehydrogenase and catalase, respectively, under these conditions. Neither inhibitor nor a combination of them altered the mixed function oxygen of p-nitroanisole to p-nitrophenol as observed by oxygen uptake and product formation. When ethanol utilization was measured over the concentration range 20-80 mM in perfused liver, a concentration dependence was observed. At low concentrations of ethanol, ethanol oxidation was almost totally abolished by 4-methylpyrazole; however, the contribution of 4-methylpyrazole-insensitive ethanol uptake increased as a function of ethanol concentration. At 80 mM ethanol, ethanol utilization was nearly 50% methylpyrazole-insensitive. This portion of ethanol oxidation, however, was abolished by aminotriazole. The data indicate that alcohol dehydrogenase and catalase-H2O2 are responsible for hepatic ethanol oxidation. At low ethanol concentrations (less than 20 mM), alcohol dehydrogenase is predominant; however, at higher ethanol concentrations (up to 80 mM), the contribution of catalase-H2O2 to overall ethanol utilization is significant. No evidence that the endoplasmic reticulum is involved in ethanol metabolism in the perfused liver emerged from these studies.     

Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes): developmental model for the study of alcohol teratology

BACKGROUND: Animal models are necessary to investigate the mechanism of alcohol-induced birth defects. We have used Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) as a non-mammalian model to elucidate the molecular mechanism(s) of ethanol teratogenesis. METHODS: Medaka eggs, within 1 hr post-fertilization (hpf) were exposed to waterborne ethanol (0-1000 mM) in hatching solution for 48 hr. Embryo development was observed daily until 10 days post-fertilization (dpf). The concentration of embryonic ethanol was determined enzymatically. Cartilage and bones were stained by Alcian blue and calcein, respectively and skeletal and cardiovascular defects were assessed microscopically. Genetic gender of the embryos was determined by PCR. Levels of two isoenzymes of alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh) mRNAs were determined by semi-quantitative and real-time RT-PCR. RESULTS: The concentration of ethanol required to cause 50% mortality (LC50) in 10 dpf embryos was 568 mM, however, the embryo absorbed only 15-20% of the waterborne ethanol at all ethanol concentrations. The length of the lower jaw and calcification in tail fin cartilaginous structures were reduced by ethanol exposure. Active blood circulation was exhibited at 50+ hpf in embryos treated with 0-100 mM ethanol; active circulation was delayed and blood clots developed in embryos treated with 200-400 mM ethanol. The deleterious effects of ethanol were not gender-specific. Moreover, ethanol treatment was unable to alter the constitutive expression of either Adh5 or Adh8 mRNA in the medaka embryo. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary results suggested that embryogenesis in medaka was significantly affected by ethanol exposure. Phenotypic features normally associated with ethanol exposure were similar to that observed in mammalian models of fetal alcohol syndrome. The results further indicated that medaka embryogenesis might be used as an alternative non-mammalian model for investigating specific alterations in gene expression as a means to understand the molecular mechanism(s) of ethanol-induced birth defects.     

Indolylacetic acid and N6-(delta 2-isopentenyl) adenine affect NADH binding to yeast alcohol dehydrogenase and inhibit in vitro the enzymatic oxidation of ethanol

Derivative UV spectroscopic data show that the plant growth substances N6-(delta 2-isopentenyl) adenine (i6Ade) and indolylacetic acid (IAA) can bind to the yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and affect coenzyme-enzyme binding. This is confirmed by enzyme kinetics studies. At fixed ethanol concentrations (27.8 and 111.1 mM) and varying NAD+ concentrations (0.033-2 mM), as well as at fixed levels of coenzyme (0.67 and 2 mM), and at varying concentrations of ethanol (1.4-111.1 mM), the rate of ethanol oxidation is significantly inhibited by i6Ade and IAA. The kinetics of the ADH reaction is affected by two inhibition constants (KI and K'I) which correspond to the dissociation constants of complexes EI and ESI, respectively. For i6Ade the KI = 0.52 +/- 0.06 mM and K'I = 0.74 +/- 0.07 mM, and for IAA the KI = 0.88 +/- 0.03 mM and K'I = 0.99 +/- 0.02 mM.     

A novel urea sensitive biosensor with extended dynamic range based on recombinant urease and ISFETs

A novel urea biosensor based on immobilised recombinant urease as sensitive element and ion sensitive field effect transistor as transducer was developed. Recombinant urease from E. coli with an increased Km was photoimmobilised in PVA/SbQ (poly(vinyl alcohol) containing styrylpyridinium) membrane and has demonstrated quite good performance as biosensitive element. Enzymatic field effect transistors based on such a bioselective element were studied in model buffer solutions. This biosensor demonstrated an extended dynamic range up to 80 mM, a quite good reproducibility (standard deviation of the sensor responses was approximately 2.5%, n= 20 for urea concentration 10 mM) and a high stability. Such characteristics fit with the analytical requirements needed for urea control in plasma and liquids used during renal dialysis.     

Conversion of alpha-ketoglutarate into L-glutamic acid with urea as ammonium source using multienzyme systems and dextran-NAD+ immobilized by microencapsulation within artificial cells in a bioreactor

Urea could be effectively converted into L-glutamic acid with semipermeable nylon-polyethylenimine artificial cells containing L-glutamic dehydrogenase (EC 1.4.1. 3), yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1), urease (EC 3.5.1. 5) and soluble dextran-NAD(+). For batch conversion, the artificial cell suspension to total reaction volume ratios ranged from 1 in 5 to 1 in 60. From 22.6 to 53.4 mumol of L-glutamic acid could be produced by 0.4 mL artificial cell suspension within 2 h. The corresponding conversion ratios were 56.5-11. 1%. The L-glutamic dehydrogenase multienzyme system showed a good storage stability: 66.0% of the original activity was retained after 1 month of storage at 4 degrees C. A small bioreactor was prepared to contain 4.0 mL artificial cells. At a flow rate of SV = 1.5 h(-1), the maximum conversion rate was 49.6 mumol L-glutamic acid/p h. Thirty-eight percent of the maximum activity was retained when continuously used for four days at 22 degrees C. A kinetic analysis for the L-glutamic dehydrogenase multienzyme system was studied. The Michaelis constants are as follows: alpha-ketoglutarate is 0.838 mM; urea is 1.90 mM; dextran- NAD(+) is 0.345 mM; and ethanol is 5.31 mM.     

A simple steady state kinetic model for alcohol dehydrogenase. Use of reaction progress curves for parameters estimation at pH 7.4

A simple rate equation for alcohol dehydrogenase was obtained by assuming independent binding sites for ethanol and NAD+ and fully competitive inhibition by the products of the reaction, acetaldehyde and NADH. A random binding order was also assumed. The rate equation is described by six parameters: four association constants (two for the substrates and two for the products of the reaction), Vf for the forward direction, and the equilibrium constant of the reaction. The six parameters were determined at pH 7.4 by numerical analysis of progress curves of reactions started with different concentrations of ethanol and NAD+. The parameters for alcohol dehydrogenase partially purified from rat liver were: Km for ethanol = 0.746 mM, Km for NAD+ = 0.0563 mM, Km for acetaldehyde = 7.07 microM, Km for NADH = 4.77 microM and Keq = 2.36 X 10(-4). The computed values allowed a very good simulation of the experimental progress curves and little variation was observed in the kinetic parameters when the reactions were started in the presence of either NADH or acetaldehyde.