Light-Driven Catalytic Regulation of Enzymes at the Interface with Plasmonic Nanomaterials

Author(s)

de Barros, Heloise Ribeiro ^{[1, 2]} ; Lopez-Gallego, Fernando ^{[3, 2]} ; Liz-Marzan, Luis M. ^{[3, 2, 4]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Chem, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Basque Res & Technol Alliance BRTA, CIC biomaGUNE, San Sebastian 20014 - Spain

^[3] Basque Fdn Sci, Ikerbasque, Bilbao 48013 - Spain

^[4] Ctr Invest Biomed Red Bioingn Biomat & Nanomed CI, San Sebastian 20014 - Spain

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BIOCHEMISTRY; v. 60, n. 13, p. 991-998, APR 6 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Regulation of enzymes is highly relevant toward orchestrating cell-free and stepwise biotransformations, thereby maximizing their overall performance. Plasmonic nanomaterials offer a great opportunity to tune the functionality of enzymes through their remarkable optical properties. Localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPR) can be used to modify chemical transformations at the nanomaterial's surface, upon light irradiation. Incident light can promote energetic processes, which may be related to an increase of local temperature (photothermal effects) but also to effects triggered by generated hotspots or hot electrons (photoelectronic effects). As a consequence, light irradiation of the protein-nanomaterial interface affects enzyme functionality. To harness these effects to finely and remotely regulate enzyme activity, the physicochemical features of the nanomaterial, properties of the incident light, and parameters governing molecular interactions must be optimized. In this Perspective, we discuss relevant examples that illustrate the use of plasmonic nanoparticles to control enzyme function through LSPR excitation. Finally, we also highlight the importance of expanding the use of plasmonic nanomaterials to the immobilization of multienzyme systems for light-driven regulation of cell-free biosynthetic pathways. Although this concept is living its infancy, we encourage the scientific community to advance in the development of novel light-controlled biocatalytic plasmonic nanoconjugates and explore their application in biosensing, applied biocatalysis, and biomedicine. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/09668-0 - Understanding the biophysiochemical interactions between plasmonic nanoparticles and enzymes to obtain bio-nanomaterials with controlled properties
• Grantee: Heloise Ribeiro de Barros
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor