Enzyme activity enhanced by remote control
26 Nov 2018 by Evoluted New Media
Radio frequency radiation has been used as a way to enhance the activity of enzymes.
Scientists at ITMO University in Saint Petersburg synthesised a special complex in which an enzyme is enclosed on a rigid porous framework of magnetite nanoparticles.
When the radio field was applied, the nanoparticles adsorbed radio emission and heated up, passing additional energy to the enzyme and resulting in the enzymatic reaction rate acceleration.
Andrey Drozdov, member of ITMO University’s SCAMT Laboratory, said “There are very few studies out there that explore enzyme manipulation through the radio waves. We were the first who managed to increase the activity of a non-thermostable enzyme.
“Typically, these enzymes change the conformation at high temperatures and then stop working. But placed within the rigid framework of nanoparticles, the enzyme is stabilised from structure rearrangements as the nanoparticles mechanically restrict the enzyme mobility."
An experiment conducted on a model enzyme, carbonic anhydrase, showed reaction rate can be increased by more than four times. Such a method can be used to create radio-controlled biochemical systems and adjust metabolism in living organisms.
The results have been published in ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering.
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Credit: ITMO University[/caption]
