Nanocatalyst
The dance of "hedgehogs" and yeast accelerates chemical reactions
Anton Kurbatov, Indicator
Driven by a magnetic field, hedgehog-like particles can increase the permeability of cell membranes while preserving the original structure of the cell. This will speed up chemical reactions in cells, according to an article published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters (Kladko et al., Magnetic Field-Mediated Control of Whole-Cell Biocatalysis).
In order for the substances in the cell to turn into one another, a substrate is needed that will trigger a chemical reaction. With its help, the necessary compound is formed, which is used in further chemical transformations in cells or in the development of medicines and food products. However, scientists who influence the biocatalytic processes in the cell face a problem: the cell membrane and the wall limit the rate of penetration of the substrate into the cell. The solution was proposed by the staff of ITMO University.
"To overcome the barrier, it is possible to increase the permeability of the cell membrane. Chemicals are often used for this. However, they can be quite toxic, and their effect is difficult to control, and other methods can irreversibly destroy the cell structure," explained Daniil Kladko, the first author of the study, a graduate student of the SCAMT laboratory at ITMO University.
To make the membrane permeable, scientists created high-density hedgehog-like particles, inside of which there was a core with a diameter of a nanometer, and needles stuck out outside. By controlling such particles with the help of a magnetic field, the researchers managed to turn glucose into alcohol. To do this, they added "hedgehogs" to the baker's yeast and incubated the samples for a while. After that, the authors of the work sent them to a special installation that affected substances with an alternating magnetic field with a given frequency, intensity and direction. So scientists managed to break through the yeast cell membrane and deliver the substrate inside the cell, which reacted. At the same time, the structure of the cells was not damaged, and they retained their viability.
"The rotating magnetic field causes yeast and hedgehogs to spin around their axis. As a result, their interaction occurs: the “hedgehog” transforms the energy of the magnetic field into a mechanical stress on the membrane, being on which it creates a moment of force that allows it to open. In this case, time and frequency are very important. It is necessary for the field to work for some time and "pull" the membrane, because it is still a fairly dense structure, despite its apparent thinness," Kladko said.
According to scientists, the developed technology can be used in the food industry, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and other industries. For example, using the method, it is possible to increase the scale of production and reduce the price of drugs based on biosynthesis.
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