The two-step electrochemical oxidation of alcohols using a novel recombinant PQQ alcohol dehydrogenase as a catalyst for a bioanode

• PpADH can catalyze the oxidation of alcohols and aldehydes.
• The electrocatalysis of ethanol and acetaldehyde by PpADH were also observed.
• PpADH can catalyze the two-step oxidation of ethanol on the anode.

A bioanode has been developed based on the oxidation of ethanol by the recombinant pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) dependent alcohol dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas putidaKT2440 heterologously expressed in Pichia pastoris. The apo form of the recombinant protein (PpADH) was purified and displayed catalytic activity for binding PQQ in the presence of Ca2 +. PpADH exhibited broad substrate specificity towards various alcohols and aldehydes. The Km values for the aldehydes of PpADH were increased compared to those for the alcohols, whereas the kcat values were unaltered. For instance, the Km values at T = 298.15 K (25 °C) for ethanol and acetaldehyde were 0.21 (± 0.02) mM and 5.8 (± 0.60) mM, respectively. The kcat values for ethanol and acetaldehyde were 24.8 (± 1.2) s− 1 and 31.1 (± 1.2) s− 1, respectively. The aminoferrocene was used as an electron transfer mediator between PpADH and the electrode during electrochemical experiments. The catalytic currents for the oxidation of alcohol and acetaldehyde by PpADH were also observed in this system. The electric charge for the oxidation of ethanol (Q = 2.09 × 10− 3·C) was increased two-fold compared to that for the oxidation of acetaldehyde (Q = 0.95 × 10− 3·C), as determined by chronoamperometric measurements. Thus, we have electrochemically demonstrated the two-step oxidation of ethanol to acetate using only PpADH.

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