MadSci Network: Biochemistry
Query:

Re: Is there a simple and cost-effective way to extract enzymes

Date: Mon Nov 27 05:55:05 2006
Posted By: Neil Saunders, Computational biologist
Area of science: Biochemistry
ID: 1164463912.Bc
Message:

hi Stefan,

Thanks for your question. This sounds like quite an ambitious project!

You are right - if you wanted to isolate an enzyme such as glucose oxidase, you would need to use a protein isolation or protein purification technique. Basically, this involves starting with a sample from the organism that you are interested in - tissue or cells and breaking it apart to make an extract. This releases all of the proteins (enzymes are proteins) from the cells. You then need to figure out how to separate your enzyme from all of the other components. There are many ways to purify a protein from a mixture which are based on some property of the protein molecules - for instance their size, or their charge at a certain pH.

Take a look at this Wikipedia article about protein purification. You can also try searching Google Images with the phrase protein purification. You will be able to read about how scientists purify proteins and see some of the equipment that they use. Protein purification requires a lot of specialist, expensive and complex equipment and also a lot of skill. Normally, you would not learn how to isolate a protein until the final years of a university science degree, or perhaps not even until you did a second research degree course.

Don't despair though. Glucose oxidase is present and active in honey - so you might be able to think of a way to detect its activity without having to isolate it. The enzyme generates hydrogen peroxide which is very reactive - perhaps you can find a way of detecting it?

If you really need the pure enzyme, you might be able to obtain it from a chemical supply company. It would be expensive (at least some tens of dollars) and usually companies only supply enzymes for research at universities, but perhaps a teacher or local college could help you out.

I hope this helps with your project,
Neil


Current Queue | Current Queue for Biochemistry | Biochemistry archives

Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Biochemistry.



MadSci Home | Information | Search | Random Knowledge Generator | MadSci Archives | Mad Library | MAD Labs | MAD FAQs | Ask a ? | Join Us! | Help Support MadSci


MadSci Network, webadmin@madsci.org
© 1995-2006. All rights reserved.