In situ regeneration of NADH via lipoamide dehydrogenase-catalyzed electron transfer reaction evidenced by spectroelectrochemistry

NAD/NADH is a coenzyme found in all living cells, carrying electrons from one reaction to another. We report on characterizations of in situ regeneration of NADH via lipoamide dehydrogenase (LD)-catalyzed electron transfer reaction to regenerate NADH using UV–vis spectroelectrochemistry. The Michaelis–Menten constant (Km) and maximum velocity (Vmax) of NADH regeneration were measured as 0.80 ± 0.15 mM and 1.91 ± 0.09 μM s− 1 in a 1-mm thin-layer spectroelectrochemical cell using gold gauze as the working electrode at the applied potential − 0.75 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The electrocatalytic reduction of the NAD system was further coupled with the enzymatic conversion of pyruvate to lactate by lactate dehydrogenase to examine the coenzymatic activity of the regenerated NADH. Although the reproducible electrocatalytic reduction of NAD into NADH is known to be difficult compared to the electrocatalytic oxidation of NADH, our spectroelectrochemical results indicate that the in situ regeneration of NADH via LD-catalyzed electron transfer reaction is fast and sustainable and can be potentially applied to many NAD/NADH-dependent enzyme systems.

► In situ regeneration of NADH was evidenced by spectroelectrochemistry.
► NADH regeneration via enzymatic electron transfer reaction was confirmed fast and sustainable.
► Regenerated NADH was confirmed enzymatically active for NAD/NADH-dependent enzymes.