Microbial surface display of glucose dehydrogenase for amperometric glucose biosensor

A genetically engineered Escherichia coli (E. coli) strain displaying glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) with ice-nucleation protein (INP) as the anchoring motif was first constructed. The surface localization and functionality of the fusion protein containing GDH were verified by SDS-PAGE, Western blotting and enzymatic activity assay. The fusion of INP had no effects on the functionality of GDH cofactor binding domain. The activity assay showed that 74.6% of the cell lysate GDH activity was detected in the outer membrane fractions. Compared with the crude enzyme solution from E. coli expressing intracellular GDH, the GDH-displaying bacteria (GDH-bacteria) was stable within pH 6–10 below 40 °C. Further, a novel electrochemical glucose biosensor was developed by construction of Nafion/GDH-bacteria/multiwalled-carbon-nanotube modified electrode. The as-prepared biosensor is linear with the concentration of d-glucose within the range of 50–800 μM and a low detection limit of 4 μM d-glucose (S/N=3). Excess saccharides including d-galactose, d-fructose, d-cellbiose, l-arabinose and d-sucrose, d-maltose, d-mannose and d-xylose as well as common interfering substances (acetaminophen, ascorbic acid and uric acid) did not affect the detection of d-glucose (0.1 mM). The proposed biosensor is stable, specific, reproducible, simple, rapid and cost-effective, which can be used for detection of real samples. It is envisioned that this GDH-bacteria will be found promising applications in biofuel cell, glucose detection and cofactor reproduction system.

► First construction of genetically engineered bacteria displaying glucose dehydrogenase.
► Development of a novel electrochemical glucose biosensor.
► Without interference from other saccharides and common interfering substances to the detection of glucose.
► Capable of glucose measurement in real samples.