Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 5, 2026

Multiscale Sampling of a Heterogeneous Water/Metal Catalyst Interface using Density Functional Theory and Force-Field Molecular Dynamics
Published on: April 12, 2019
Modeling Alcohol Dehydrogenase Catalysis in Deep Eutectic Solvent/Water Mixtures.
Lei Huang1, Jan Philipp Bittner2, Pablo Domínguez de María3
1Department of Engineering, Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing Group, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 10, 8000, Aarhus, Denmark.
Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity in deep eutectic solvents (DESs) like glyceline depends on water content. Enzyme activity is low in glyceline/water mixtures due to high viscosity, with optimal conditions requiring further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Biocatalysis
- Enzyme Engineering
- Green Chemistry
Background:
- Oxidoreductases (EC1) are enzymes catalyzing redox reactions.
- Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) offer novel reaction media for biocatalysis.
- Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) is a key oxidoreductase.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity and stability in the DES glyceline.
- Determine the effect of varying water content on ADH performance in glyceline/water mixtures.
- Understand the molecular basis of ADH behavior in DESs.
Main Methods:
- Enzyme activity and stability assays in glyceline/water mixtures.
- Measurement of thermodynamic water activity (aW) and viscosity.
- Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to analyze enzyme flexibility and hydration.
Main Results:
- ADH activity is observed only at higher water activities (>0.2) in glyceline/water mixtures.
- Enzyme activity in DESs is lower than in pure water, attributed to high viscosity.
- MD simulations revealed increased enzyme flexibility with higher water content.
Conclusions:
- The behavior of ADH in glyceline/water mixtures follows established trends for enzymes in non-conventional media.
- High viscosity of DESs significantly impacts enzyme activity.
- Water content plays a crucial role in modulating enzyme flexibility and activity in DESs.
Related Concept Videos
Acid-Catalyzed Dehydration of Alcohols to Alkenes
Regioselectivity and Stereochemistry of Acid-Catalyzed Hydration
Acid-Catalyzed Hydration of Alkenes
Preparation of Alcohols via Addition Reactions
The acid-catalyzed addition of water to the double bond of alkenes is a large-scale industrial method used to synthesize low-molecular-weight alcohols. An acidic atmosphere is required to allow the hydrogen in the water molecule to act as an electrophile and attack the double bond in an alkene. The addition of a proton to the double bond creates a carbocation intermediate. The proton preferentially bonds to the less substituted end of the double bond to create a more stable carbocation...
Aldehydes and Ketones with Water: Hydrate Formation
The formation of hydrates is a reversible reaction. Hydrate formation is influenced by steric and electronic factors accompanying the alkyl substituents on the carbonyl group: The rate of hydrate formation increases with a decrease in the number of alkyl groups attached to the carbonyl carbon. Hence,...
Esters to Carboxylic Acids: Acid-Catalyzed Hydrolysis
During hydrolysis, the ester is first activated towards nucleophilic attack through the protonation of the carboxyl oxygen atom by the acid catalyst. The protonation makes the ester carbonyl carbon more electrophilic. In the next step, water acts as a nucleophile and adds to the...

