BIODEGRADATION OF SOLUBLE REDOX POLYMERS .1. (0.017FERROCENE)AMYLOSE

The reaction of amylose with NaH and FcCH(2)NMe(3)(+)I(-) in dimethyl sulfoxide brought about a redox-labeled polymer with a low degree of m odification, viz. 1 ferrocene residue per 60 glucose units. The prepar ation, (0.017ferrocene) amylose, displays one-electron irreversible be havior at a pyrographite electrode in terms of the Delahay formalism, the formal redox potential E degrees' being equal to 0.38 V at pH 6 an d 40 degrees C versus SCE. Specific to amylose enzymes endo-depolymera ses, which carry out random hydrolysis, accept the labeled amylose pro viding a significant increase in the peak current on cyclic voltammogr ams. The absence of potential drifts suggests that the effect is due a n increase in the diffusion coefficients of the amylose fragments in t he course of enzymatic digestion of (0.017 ferrocene)amylose. This pro posal was confirmed by the simulation of experimental cyclic voltammog rams. Several practical applications of the results of this study for electrochemical assaying the amylolytic activity and evaluation of the mechanisms of the enzymatic catalysis by amylases have been demonstra ted.