Mimicked translocation of glucose and glucose 6-phosphate with artificial enzyme membranes

An approach to the mechanism which may govern the behaviour of biological compartmentalized systems is presented. Artificial enzyme membranes with immobilized glucose oxidase, invertase or hexokinase were used to separate two compartments of a specially designed diffusion cell. Asymmetry in volume, hydrodynamic conditions and enzyme location was purposely chosen in order to create situations which could not be obtained with an enzyme free in solution, and was then used to tentatively mimic situations existing in vivo. Experiments were conducted and a translocation effect of H2O2, glucose and glucose 6-phosphate was obtained. A theoretical analysis taking into account the different identified parameters of the system was elaborated.