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Radiofrequency remote control of thermolysin activity
Christian B Collins1, Ryan A Riskowski1,2, Christopher J Ackerson3
1Department of Chemistry, Campus Delivery 1872, Colorado State Unviersity, Fort Collins, CO, 80523-1827, USA.
Scientific Reports
|March 17, 2021
Summary
Researchers remotely activated the enzyme thermolysin using radiofrequency (RF) fields and gold-coated nanoparticles. This method increased enzyme activity by 129% without bulk heating, enabling precise control over cellular processes.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Nanotechnology
- Enzyme kinetics
Background:
- Enzymes regulate most biological processes.
- Precise control over enzymes could enable remote regulation of cellular functions.
- Thermolysin is a thermophilic enzyme with potential applications in biocatalysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the remote activation of thermolysin using radiofrequency (RF) fields.
- To determine if RF fields can modulate enzyme activity without bulk heating.
- To explore the potential of nanoparticle-enzyme conjugates for remote cellular control.
Main Methods:
- Covalent attachment of thermolysin to 6.1 nm gold-coated magnetite nanoparticles.
- Exposure of the nanoparticle-enzyme conjugate to 17.76 MHz radiofrequency (RF) fields.
- Measurement of enzyme activity and kinetics at varying RF field strengths.
- Control experiments without RF fields or nanoparticles.
Main Results:
- Remote activation of thermolysin observed in RF fields when attached to nanoparticles.
- Enzyme activity increased by 129 ± 8%, equivalent to a 16 ± 2 °C temperature rise, without bulk heating.
- Kinetics studies indicated an 'induced fit' mechanism, with a hot enzyme interacting with a cold substrate.
Conclusions:
- Radiofrequency fields can remotely activate enzymes like thermolysin when conjugated to gold-coated magnetite nanoparticles.
- This non-thermal activation mechanism offers a novel approach for remote control of enzyme activity and cellular processes.
- The findings suggest potential applications in targeted therapies and advanced biotechnologies.
