Immobilization and bioelectrochemical properties of anhydrases, oxidases and reductases

• Grant number: 22/09120-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2022
• End date: December 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Rafael Neri Prystaj Colombo
• Grantee: Beatriz Bertin
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

With the advances in enzymes' bioengineering, myriad applications have become highlighted as solutions to deal with the ever-increasing energy demand and the complexity in terms of intermittence, with eco-friendly and low-cost systems, to carbon sinking and molecular valorization. Nowadays, the state-of-art in enzymatic processes indicates that reactions such as water oxidation to molecular oxygen can be performed as a promiscuous reaction with multicopper oxidase enzymes. Molecular valorization is also viable through enzymatic biocatalysis, either for the CO2 reduction to aggregate value organic compounds or converting nitrogen to ammonia. Herein, we seek to deepen the practical knowledge to supplant these challenges, employing three classes of enzymes: oxidases, reductases, and anhydrases. We will address some enzymatic immobilization methodologies in carbon electrodes, due to their high electroactivity, chemical versatility, and low cost, as well as spectroscopical and electrochemical studies, especially in-situ, aiming to comprehend the biocatalysis mechanisms at the three-dimensional redox sites in these enzymes. We expect, therefore, to overcome challenges to the practical enzymatic anchoring to electrodes, with adequate orientation for improved electrochemical communication and maximized accessibility to active sites cavities, as well as elucidating mechanisms with redox state variations in metals at the active center, formation of intermediates and the kinetic and thermodynamics of the chemical conversions occurring at these microenvironments. With these data, viable and high-efficiency biocatalytic devices could be engendered for the proposed applications.(AU)