ELECTRON-TRANSFER FROM DIAPHORASE IN WATER TRITON X-100 BUTYL ACETATE MICROEMULSION

The transfer of electrons from an enzyme in a microemulsion system to a glassy carbon electrode, via mediators of different solubilities, is demonstrated. A bienzymic reaction is carried out in a microemulsion formed by the nonionic detergent Triton X-100 in butyl acetate. The enzymes used are alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH, EC 1.1.1.1) and diaphorase (EC 1.8.1.4). ADH catalyzes the conversion of primary alcohols to aldehydes with the concomitant reduction of its cofactor. nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD-) to NADH. Diaphorase reoxidizes NADH and can utilize a variety of molecules as an electron acceptor. It is demonstrated that these may be water soluble or solvent soluble.