Induction of a proton gradient across a gold-supported biomimetic membrane by electroenzymatic H2 oxidation

Abstract

Energy-transduction mechanisms in living organisms, such as photosynthesis and respiration, store light and chemical energy in the form of an electrochemical gradient created across a lipid bilayer. Herein we show that the proton concentration at an electrode/phospholipid-bilayer interface can be controlled and monitored electrochemically by immobilizing a membrane-bound hydrogenase. Thus, the energy derived from the electroenzymatic oxidation of H2 can be used to generate a proton gradient across the supported biomimetic membrane.

Keywords: enzymatic electrodes; hydrogen; hydrogenase; phospholipids; proton gradients.