Technical application note outlines the direct monitoring of biochemical reactions and determination of enzyme activity using high-resolution ultrasonic spectroscopy
Ultrasonic Scientific has introduced a new free technical application note, outlining the direct monitoring of biochemical reactions and determination of enzyme activity using high-resolution ultrasonic spectroscopy (HR-US).
The note describes the application of the high-resolution ultrasonic spectrometers for direct real time monitoring of chemical reactions.
The HR-US family of high-resolution ultrasonic spectrometers allows direct detection of chemical reactions by monitoring the change in concentration of the substrates and products including optically opaque systems.
This technology is extremely sensitive, non-destructive, requires no markers and can be used in non-transparent samples, such as emulsions (eg paints), concentrated dispersions (tomato juice, milk), and in semisolid materials (cheese, rubbers, films).
The monitoring of biochemical reactions and the determination of enzyme activity are of key importance in the control of biological processes, the development of new and improved products and process optimisation for biotech, pharmaceutical, food and other industries.
The application note includes three applications.
Ultrasonic monitoring of a-amylase hydrolysis of maltoheptaose for applications in detergents, starch sizing and dextrin levels in baking.
Ultrasonic determination of enzyme activity of catalase in a peroxide hydrolysis for commercial interest wherever hydrogen peroxide is used as a germicide.
Ultrasonic monitoring of enzyme hydrolysis of peroxide by catalase measuring peroxide concentrations and production of O2.
High-resolution ultrasonic spectroscopy provides a universal capability for the monitoring of chemical reactions in real time.
The measurements do not require any optical activity and transparency of the sample and allow direct monitoring of the changes in the concentrations of the substrates and products in the addition to the analysis of the hydration changes and structural transitions upon the reactions.
Modern HR-US spectrometers allow the user to perform the measurements in sample volumes at low and high concentrations and volumes 0.03ml and higher in a broad temperature range with no limits on the solvents and components of the reactions.
Enzyme activity as well as substrate concentration can be evaluated. Unlike other techniques like calorimetry, the HR-US 102 measurements are not mass dependent.
The HR-US series of ultrasonic spectrometers offer high-resolution analysis at high-throughput rates for small sample volumes, with no sample preparation or time consuming set-up.
