Enzymes Creating Electricity

Ian Wheeldon

Ian Wheeldon, an assistant professor at  the University of California, Riverside's Bourns College of Engineering, has just received a $360,000 grant. He will conduct further research enzymes by organizing them on an electrodes to create nanoscale devices that convert chemical energy of sugars and complex carbs into electricity much more efficiently. Previous trails have shown that spatial organization of enzymatic pathways show that there is a increase in power density. Ian is one of forty scientists and engineers to receive this grant for the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. He will be provided funding for three years. Nature influences the enzymes organization, but new technology in synthetic biology, bionanotechology, and bioenergy systems has led to new multi-enzyme path-ways. Wheeldon says that this type of experimentation is base of trial and error because complex pathways are becoming almost impossible to figure out for those that are needed for biofules. The first step for Wheeldon is to connect a relationship between enzymes and pathway reaction rate and he can use that to figure out the pattern between the two. There is much more to this discovery than just biofule, such as pharmaceuticals (antibiotics) and chemicals, such as ethers.

NOS Themes

• Science is based on evidence.
• Role of credibility.
• Role of motivation and curiosity.
• Importance of repeatability.

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2013/03/07/organizing_enzymes_to_create_electricity.html