An efficient amperometric transketolase assay: towards inhibitor screening.

This paper describes an innovative amperometric biosensor for the in vitro determination of activity of transketolase from Escherichia coli (TKec) using commercially available TK substrates, namely d-fructose-6-phosphate a physiological donor and glycolaldehyde the best non-phosphorylated acceptor. A galactose oxidase (GAOx) biosensor, based on the immobilization of this enzyme within laponite clay, allows amperometric detection of L-erythrulose released upon TK-catalyzed reaction. A calibration curve has been established from 0.01 to 0.1 U ml(-1) TKec concentration in solution. These data are comparable to that obtained by a fluorometric method. In order to ensure a higher sensitivity and re-usability of the system, an original bienzymatic sensing system was further developed based on apoenzyme TKec and GAOx separately immobilized on the electrode surface. The inner sensing layer contains GAOx@laponite and the outer layer TKec@layered double hydroxide biohybrid. The biosensor response was validated by the determination of KD(app) for thiamine diphosphate, the TK cofactor and the inhibition action of two commercially available products, pyrophosphate, a TK cofactor analog and d-arabinose-5-phosphate, a substrate analog.