Bipyridines mediate electron transfer from an electrode to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate

Biocatalysts are widely used in industry, but few examples of the use of oxidoreductases, in which enzymatic function often requires electrons, have been reported. NADPH is a cofactor that supplies an electron to oxidoreductases, but is consequently inactivated and no longer able to act as an electron donor. NADP(+) can not receive electrons from electrodes through straightforward electrochemistry owing to its complicated three-dimensional structure. This study reports that bipyridines effectively mediate electron transfer between an electrode and NADP(+), allowing them to serve as electron mediators for NADPH production. Using bipyridines, quinones, and anilines, which have negative oxidation–reduction potentials, an electrochemical investigation was conducted into whether electrons were transferred to NADP(+). Only bipyridines with a reduction potential near -1.0 V exhibited electron transfer. Furthermore, the NADPH production level was measured using spectroscopy. NADPH was efficiently produced using bipyridines, such as methyl viologen and ethyl viologen, in which the bipyridyl 1- and 1’-positions bear small substituents. However, methyl viologen caused a dehydrogenation reaction of NADPH, making it unsuitable as an electron mediator for NADPH production. The dehydrogenation reaction did not occur using ethyl viologen. These results indicated that NADP(+) can be reduced more effectively using substituents that prevent a dehydrogenation reaction at the bipyridyl 1- and 1’-positions while maintaining the reducing power.