(307c) Using DNA As a Scaffold for Immobilizing Enzyme Cascades for Biofuel Cells

Enzymatic fuel cells are a class of fuel cells that utilize oxidoreductase enzymes to catalyze the redox reactions at the anode and/or the cathode. Anodes are particularly challenging in enzymatic fuel cells, because multiple enzymes are needed to oxidize most complex biofuels. Recent research has shown that in order to have high flux through enzyme cascade reactions, there is a need for proximity between enzyme active sites. This paper will discuss the use of DNA as a scaffold material for controlling the distance between sequential enzymes in a enzyme cascade-based bioanode for a biofuel cell. The paper will discuss an enzyme cascade for sucrose oxidation involving invertase and glucose oxidase. It will show the importance of decreasing the distance between active sites in sequential enzymes on the performance (current and power density) of bioanodes in biofuel cells. This paper will also discuss methods for utilizing DNA as a scaffold for the redox mediator and DNA origami examples for complex enzyme cascades.