Galactose oxidase, polymer

Fortier [6] found that AQ polymer from Eastman was not deleterious for the activity of a variety of enzymes such as L-amino acid oxidase, choline oxidase, galactose oxidase, and GOD. Following mixing of the enzyme with the AQ polymer, the mixture was cast and dried onto the surface of a platinum electrode. The film was then coated with a thin layer of Nafion to avoid dissolution of the AQ polymer film in the aqueous solution when the electrode was used as a biosensor. These easy-to-make amperometric biosensors, which were based on the amperometric detection of H202, showed high catalytic activity. 

Another completely different type of future enzymes are the oxidases, which are able to oxidize selectively the hydroxyl groups in polymers. An example of this type of enzyme is galactose oxidase, which transforms the hydroxyl group in C-6 to the aldehyde group (44), This enzyme has been known for over 30 years, but its use in the modification of galactomannas has been restricted due to the lack of a suitable industrial enzyme preparation. The possible applications of galactose oxidases are discussed in more detail in another chapter in this book. Hitherto this is the only known oxidase to act on hemicelluloses, but hopefully more enzymes of this type will be discovered in the future. 

---