Catalytic Potential-Guided Design of Multi-Enzymatic System for DHA Production from Glycerol

The growing demand for sustainable chemical production has spurred significant interest in biocatalysis. This study is framed within the biocatalytic production of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone (DHA) from glycerol, a byproduct of biodiesel manufacturing. The main goal of this study is to address the challenge of identifying the optimal operating conditions. To achieve this, catalytic potential, a lumped parameter that considers both the activity and stability of immobilized biocatalysts, was used to guide the design of a multi-enzymatic system. The multi-enzymatic system comprises glycerol dehydrogenase (GlyDH) and NADH oxidase (NOX). The enzymatic oxidation of glycerol to DHA catalyzed by GlyDH requires the cofactor NAD+. The integration of NOX into a one-pot reactor allows for the in situ regeneration of NAD+, enhancing the overall efficiency of the process. Furthermore, immobilization on Ni agarose chelated supports, combined with post-immobilization modifications (glutaraldehyde crosslinking for GlyDH), significantly improved the stability and activity of both enzymes. The catalytic potential enabled the identification of the optimal operating conditions, which were 30 °C and pH 7.5, favoring NOX stability. This work establishes a framework for the rational design and optimization of multi-enzymatic systems. It highlights the crucial interplay between individual enzyme properties and process conditions to achieve efficient and sustainable biocatalytic transformations.