All Science Fair Projects

Soybean peroxidase

Soybean peroxidase is the latest addition to the arsenal of medical tools that are now being used in diagnosing AIDS. When geneticist Rick Vierling from Purdue University started to do research on how to add value to soybeans, he had not expected that his research would be able help doctors in China to diagnose AIDS in patients. New medical diagnostic kits that use soybean peroxidase-based compounds are slated to be released into the market.

Previously, horseradish peroxidase was used in medical kits to help with diagnosing bacterial, viral and parasitic diseases such as malaria and AIDS. Manufacturers of these medical kits are now interested in soybean peroxidase because of its abundance of supply as compared to horseradish. Moreover, horseradish peroxidase enzyme is not very stable at high temperatures.

Standard medical diagnostic kits are said to lose their effectiveness within 4 months if they are stored without any refrigeration. The new medical diagnostic kits based on soybean peroxidase enzymes are able to last for up to a year when stored without refrigeration. This makes them suitable for use in countries with warmer climates, such as Africa, South America, India and China.

Soybean peroxidase has high thermal stability and is able to withstand temperatures between 20 degrees C and 90 degrees C without becoming denatured. It is also stable between pH 2.0 and pH 8.0 and will produce peak catalytic activity when the pH is 2.4. These are 2 characteristics of soybean peroxidase that make it stand out compared to other enzymes, which will denature under such high temperatures.