Vol.:(0123456789)
Topics in Current Chemistry (2018) 376:43
https://doi.org/10.1007/s41061-018-0221-4
1 3
REVIEW
Electrometabolic Pathways: Recent Developments
in Bioelectrocatalytic Cascades
David P. Hickey
1
· Erin M. Gaffney
1
· Shelley D. Minteer
1
Received: 1 September 2018 / Accepted: 25 October 2018 / Published online: 3 November 2018
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2018
Abstract
In biological systems, the majority of chemistry occurs in enzymatic pathways.
Pathways are essentially cascades of protein catalysts used for catabolism or metabolism. However, in cellular-free systems, catalytic cascades have been rarely studied
until recently. This review will introduce the lessons that can be learned from in vivo
enzymatic pathways and novel enzymatic pathways that have been developed for
synthetic biology of electrochemical energy production and conversion. This review
will also discuss the recent bio-inspired developments to utilize catalytic cascades
for non-biological applications ranging from energy conversion to biosensing and
the electrochemical production of important chemicals such as methanol from carbon dioxide and ammonia from agricultural waste runoff.
Keywords Bioelectrocatalysis · Enzymes · Mediated electron transfer · Catalytic
cascades · Electrocatalysis
1 Enzyme‑Based Catalytic Cascades
Metabolic and catabolic pathways comprise the energetic engine to convert and
distribute chemical energy in living cells. These pathways are enzymatic cascades
that catalyze sequential reactions for chemical energy conversion. Saccharides are
the primary fuel source for eukaryotic metabolism, where they can be utilized to
generate cellular energy while simultaneously acting as precursor carbon sources
in many biosynthetic pathways. Metabolism of saccharides in vivo occurs via glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathways resulting in the formation of pyruvate, which subsequently undergoes pyruvate metabolism via the Kreb’s cycle.
* Shelley D. Minteer
minteer@chem.utah.edu
1
Departments of Chemistry and Materials Science and Engineering, University of Utah, 315 S
1400 E Rm 2020, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
Reprinted from the journal
149
Chapter 6 was originally published as Hickey, D. P., Gaffney, E. M. & Minteer, S. D. Topics in Current
Chemistry (2018) 376: 43. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41061-018-0221-4.
Topics in Current Chemistry (2018) 376:43
https://doi.org/10.1007/s41061-018-0221-4
1 3
REVIEW
Electrometabolic Pathways: Recent Developments
in Bioelectrocatalytic Cascades
David P. Hickey
1
· Erin M. Gaffney
1
· Shelley D. Minteer
1
Received: 1 September 2018 / Accepted: 25 October 2018 / Published online: 3 November 2018
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2018
Abstract
In biological systems, the majority of chemistry occurs in enzymatic pathways.
Pathways are essentially cascades of protein catalysts used for catabolism or metabolism. However, in cellular-free systems, catalytic cascades have been rarely studied
until recently. This review will introduce the lessons that can be learned from in vivo
enzymatic pathways and novel enzymatic pathways that have been developed for
synthetic biology of electrochemical energy production and conversion. This review
will also discuss the recent bio-inspired developments to utilize catalytic cascades
for non-biological applications ranging from energy conversion to biosensing and
the electrochemical production of important chemicals such as methanol from carbon dioxide and ammonia from agricultural waste runoff.
Keywords Bioelectrocatalysis · Enzymes · Mediated electron transfer · Catalytic
cascades · Electrocatalysis
1 Enzyme‑Based Catalytic Cascades
Metabolic and catabolic pathways comprise the energetic engine to convert and
distribute chemical energy in living cells. These pathways are enzymatic cascades
that catalyze sequential reactions for chemical energy conversion. Saccharides are
the primary fuel source for eukaryotic metabolism, where they can be utilized to
generate cellular energy while simultaneously acting as precursor carbon sources
in many biosynthetic pathways. Metabolism of saccharides in vivo occurs via glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathways resulting in the formation of pyruvate, which subsequently undergoes pyruvate metabolism via the Kreb’s cycle.
* Shelley D. Minteer
minteer@chem.utah.edu
1
Departments of Chemistry and Materials Science and Engineering, University of Utah, 315 S
1400 E Rm 2020, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
Reprinted from the journal
149
Chapter 6 was originally published as Hickey, D. P., Gaffney, E. M. & Minteer, S. D. Topics in Current
Chemistry (2018) 376: 43. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41061-018-0221-4.