Application of an Electrochemical NAD⁺ Recycling System Involving a String-Like Carbon Fiber to an Enzyme Reactor

Abstract

A string-like carbon fiber was found to be very suitable as a working electrode material for direct electrochemical oxidation of β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide reduced form (NADH), and direct use of it for an enzyme reactor was possible. The electrochemical NAD⁺ recycling system was applied to glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) and to the recombinant formate dehydrogenase (RFDH) reactors. The maximum oxidation current value increased to 3.9 mA in the case of the GDH reactor. The remaining GDH activity after the reaction for 10 h amounted to 57% of the initial level. The remaining NAD⁺ activity amounted to 78% of the initial level. The current efficiency was calculated to be 80%. Furthermore, RFDH, which was more stable than GDH, was applied to the system. The maximum current value reached 5.9 mA. The remaining RFDH activity after reaction for 10 h amounted to 81% of the initial level. The remaining NAD⁺ activity was 78% of the initial level. The current efficiency was calculated to be 73%. Based on these results, both the enzyme and NAD⁺ were found to be acceptably stable in the electrochemical NAD⁺ recycling system.