Purine bases - electrochemical study and the development of models and approaches for electrochemical reactions coupled to enzymatic process in solution

• Grant number: 24/20204-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2029
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Silvia Helena Pires Serrano
• Grantee: Rafael Alessandro Chioquetti de Lima
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project proposes an investigation into the electrochemical behavior of purine bases, such as adenine (ADE), guanine (GUA), hypoxanthine (HXN), and xanthine (XAN), with a focus on developing models to describe electrochemical reactions coupled with enzymatic processes in solution. The theoretical component involves deriving equations that describe the kinetics of homogeneous chemical reactions coupled with electrochemical reactions, with an emphasis on systems catalyzed by enzymes like adenosine deaminase and 5'-nucleotidases. These models will be validated through digital simulations, enabling the prediction of chronoamperometric current profiles and optimizing experimental design for studies of enzymatic kinetics in solution.Voltammetric studies will be conducted to characterize the oxidation mechanisms of purine bases and evaluate the formation of dimers, oligomers, and adducts on electrode surfaces. Mass spectrometry and microscopy techniques will be used for chemical characterization of modified surfaces, while finite element simulations will be applied to study surface heterogeneity and its electrochemical implications. The models proposed in the theoretical phase of the work will be applied, alongside knowledge obtained on electrode modification and purine electrochemistry, to the kinetic study of enzymes related to the metabolism of these molecules.This combination of theoretical development, simulations, and experiments will advance the understanding of oxidation mechanisms and enzymatic reactions involving purines, and contribute to the development of innovative electrochemical sensors for applications in diagnostics and monitoring of biochemical processes.