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Amphiphilic Copolymer Membranes Promote NADH:Ubiquinone Oxidoreductase Activity: Towards an Electron‐Transfer Nanodevice
Author(s) -
Graff Alexandra,
FraysseAilhas Caroline,
Palivan Cornelia G.,
Grzelakowski Mariusz,
Friedrich Thorsten,
Vebert Corinne,
Gescheidt Georg,
Meier Wolfgang
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.200900517
Subject(s) - amphiphile , membrane , copolymer , nanodevice , electron transfer , chemistry , vesicle , electron transport chain , electron paramagnetic resonance , polymer chemistry , polymer , molar mass , biophysics , oxidoreductase , photochemistry , enzyme , materials science , organic chemistry , nanotechnology , biochemistry , physics , nuclear magnetic resonance , biology
Nanoscale devices for energy conversion require the transfer of electrons from one compartment to another. The enzyme complex I, which in vivo mediates electron transfer from NADH to ubiquinone, is an intriguing candidate for this role in nanodevices. However, complex I normally requires the presence of lipids to remain active, potentially limiting its application. Here we demonstrate for the first time that complex I can be actively reconstituted in the synthetic membrane of amphiphilic triblock copolymer vesicles. The functionality of the reconstituted protein was characterized by EPR and activity assays. Its activity is strongly influenced by the molar mass and the block length of the membrane‐forming polymers, and increases with increasing membrane thickness.