title: Electrochemical cells for voltammetry, coulometry, and protein activity assays of small-volume biological samples.
abstract: Cell designs, experimental protocols, and results for electrochemical investigation of small quantitites of biological materials under anaerobic conditions are reported. Three types of electrochemical experiments are considered: (i) cyclic voltammetry of 20- to 100-microliters samples; (ii) direct coulometry of 0.5- to 1.5-ml samples; and (iii) an electrochemically initiated protein activity assay which includes provision for analysis of gaseous reaction products and correlation with electron flux. The first two procedures are illustrated by measurement of the formal electrode potential (E0') and number of electrons transferred (n) in redox reactions of small quantities of biological and inorganic materials. The third procedure is illustrated by assaying the activity of the MoFe protein plus Fe protein complex from Azotobacter vinelandii nitrogenase for reduction of C2H2 to C2H4.
authors.affiliation: USDA/ARS Western Region Research Center, Albany, California 94710.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Gheller
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Schultz
mesh_terms: D000114:Acetylene / Q000378:metabolism; D001395:Azotobacter / Q000201:enzymology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004572:Electrolysis; D004579:Electron Transport; D004867:Equipment Design; D005740:Gases / Q000378:metabolism; D008983:Molybdoferredoxin / Q000378:metabolism; D009591:Nitrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D005740:Gases; D008983:Molybdoferredoxin; D011506:Proteins; D009591:Nitrogenase; D000114:Acetylene