Electrocatalytic and Biosensing Properties of Aerobic Carbon Monoxide Dehydrogenase from Hydrogenophaga Pseudoflava Immobilized on Au Electrode towards Carbon Monoxide Oxidation

Current status of carbon monoxide dehydrogenases (CODH) and their potential for electrochemical applications

Anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) levels are rising to alarming concentrations in earth's atmosphere, causing adverse effects and global climate changes. In the last century, innovative research on CO2 reduction using chemical, photochemical, electrochemical and enzymatic approaches has been addressed. In particular, natural CO2 conversion serves as a model for many processes and extensive studies on microbes and enzymes regarding redox reactions involving CO2 have already been conducted. In this review we focus on the enzymatic conversion of CO2 to carbon monoxide (CO) as the chemical conversion downstream of CO production render CO particularly attractive as a key intermediate. We briefly discuss the different currently known natural autotrophic CO2 fixation pathways, focusing on the reversible reaction of CO2, two electrons and protons to CO and water, catalyzed by carbon monoxide dehydrogenases (CODHs). We then move on to classify the different type of CODHs, involved catalyzed chemical reactions and coupled metabolisms. Finally, we discuss applications of CODH enzymes in photochemical and electrochemical cells to harness CO2 from the environment transforming it into commodity chemicals.

Dissolved carbon monoxide concentration monitoring platform based on direct electrical connection of CO dehydrogenase with electrically accessible surface structure

CO dehydrogenase (CODH) employed in a dissolved CO biosensor development study harbors a solvent-exposed cofactor capable of DET to electrode. Here, CODH was immobilized on arrays of AuNPs of various dimensions to determine the effect of the size and shape of the electrode surface on the direct electrical connection between CODH and electrode surface. The results showed the degree of proximity between the CODH cofactor and electrode surface, which varied with AuNP size and caused significant changes to the electrical connection at the interface as well as to the substrate accessibility. Consequently, a high-density nanoscale SRS was fabricated on electrode to further facilitate direct electrical connection as well as to enable distribution of CODH into monolayer or near-monolayer for lowering the barrier of CO diffusion toward enzyme. The findings show the feasibility of controlling the direct electrical connection between CODH and the electrode as well as controlling the substrate accessibility.