The effect of an applied potential on the activity of carbonic anhydrase immobilized on graphite rods

AbstractThe effect of both a positive and a negative applied potential on the p‐NPA hydrolysis activity of bovine carbonic anhydrase (BCA) immobilized on graphite rods has been investigated. Background experiments show that the pH‐activity profile for BCA free in solution is not affected by either a negative or a positive potential applied to graphite rods placed in the same solution. However, the activity of BCA immobilized by covalent attachment to a graphite rod is influenced by a potential externally applied to the graphite rod. An overall increase in activity (as determined by the initial rate of the p‐NPA hydrolysis reaction) is observed in the presence of a ‐0.2 V (Ag/AgCl) applied potential, while decreased activity is evident at +0.6 V (Ag/AgCl). This is indicative of an electrolyte anion effect rather than a local pH effect. In the presence of the specific anion inhibitors Cl− and SCN−, the relative BCA activity increases at ‐0.2 V (Ag/AgCl) and decreases at +0.6 V (Ag/AgCl) are consistent with the different BCA inhibition constants for Cl− and SCN−. Accelerated loss of immobilized BCA activity also accompanies the application of the external potentials, particularly at +0.6 V (Ag/AgCl). Results described here represent an early example of potentiostatic control of nonredox enzyme activity. Several possible mechanisms are discussed including specific anion inhibition, enzyme surface charge/charged support material interactions, and charged product inhibition. It is likely that a combination of such mechanisms is operational in this system. The implications of external potentials affecting the activity of immobilized enzymes in the design of stable immobilized enzyme electrodes are also discussed.