Glucose Oxidase (GOD)

The glucose oxidase enzyme binds to beta-D-glucopyranose  and aids in breaking the sugar down into its metabolites. GOx is a dimeric protein that catalyzes the oxidation of beta-D-glucose into D-glucono-1,5-lactone, which then hydrolyzes to gluconic acid. In order to work as a catalyst, GOx requires a cofactor, flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). FAD is a common component in biological oxidation-reduction. Redox reactions involve a gain or loss of electrons from a molecule. In the GOx-catalyzed redox reaction, FAD works as the initial electron acceptor and is reduced to FADH₂. Then FADH₂ is oxidized by the final electron acceptor, molecular oxygen (O₂), which can do so because it has a higher reduction potential. O₂ is then reduced to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Glucose oxidase is found in honey and acts as a natural preservative. GOx at the surface of the honey reduces atmospheric O₂ to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), which acts as an antimicrobial barrier.