Visible Light-Driven Membrane-Bound Compartment for Precise Regulation of Enzyme Activity

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Chemical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Photo-responsive systems offer reversible enzyme regulation but often face limitations.
• Inhibitor-based methods are enzyme-specific, while surface modification or mutation can harm enzyme structure and activity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a noninvasive, broadly applicable system for spatiotemporal enzyme regulation using visible light.
• To create a light-driven membrane-bound compartment that preserves enzyme integrity and activity.

Main Methods:

• Constructed a visible light-driven membrane-bound compartment using phenylazothiazole gated lipids and phospholipids.
• Utilized reversible trans-cis isomerization of phenylazothiazole lipids under alternating purple and green light to control membrane permeability.
• Encapsulated enzymes (carbonic anhydrase, catalase, glucose oxidase) within the compartment.

Main Results:

• The system demonstrated reversible, noninvasive on/off switching of encapsulated enzyme activity.
• Light-induced nanomechanical motions enhanced membrane permeability, enabling substrate diffusion.
• Programmable light patterns allowed for graded control over enzyme activity, preserving native enzyme structure and function.
• Successful regulation of model enzymes (carbonic anhydrase, catalase, glucose oxidase) was achieved.

Conclusions:

• The developed system provides a broadly applicable and biocompatible platform for spatiotemporal enzyme regulation.
• This strategy preserves enzyme structure and activity, overcoming limitations of existing methods.
• Offers advanced functional tunability through precise light modulation for enzyme control.