Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rhiannon M. Evans, Natalie Krahn, Bonnie J. Murphy, Harrison Lee, Fraser A. Armstrong, Dieter Soll
Summary: The study investigates the impact of substituting cysteine with selenocysteine on the function of [NiFe]-hydrogenases, revealing that while the activity of the enzymes is reduced after substitution, variants with selenocysteine show significant differences in O-2 tolerance and electrocatalytic properties.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jaehyun Cha, Hyeonseon Bak, Inchan Kwon
Summary: Researchers have discovered a pair of oxygen-tolerant enzymes that can convert hydrogen and carbon dioxide gases into formate, overcoming the issue of enzyme damage caused by the presence of oxygen in the cheap sources.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Sara Lupacchini, Jens Appel, Ron Stauder, Paul Bolay, Stephan Klaehn, Elisabeth Lettau, Lorenz Adrian, Lars Lauterbach, Bruno Buehler, Andreas Schmid, Joerg Toepel
Summary: This study successfully addressed the challenge of oxygen release during photosynthesis-driven H-2 production by introducing an oxygen-tolerant hydrogenase into cyanobacteria. The hydrogenase enabled the bacteria to utilize H-2 to fix CO2 and produce H-2 under different conditions, laying a foundation for further engineering advancements.
METABOLIC ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ravi Kumar, Matthias Stein
Summary: Recently, it was discovered that the oxygen tolerance of the [NiFe]-hydrogenase from H. thermoluteolus stems from an unusual coordination sphere of the active site nickel atom. In the oxidized state, a terminal cysteine residue is displaced by a bidentate coordinating nearby glutamate, resulting in its occupation of a third bridging position.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Haruhiko Teramoto, Tetsu Shimizu, Masako Suda, Masayuki Inui
Summary: This study explored the genetic engineering of Escherichia coli for hydrogen production. The introduction of exogenous hydrogenase and inactivation of endogenous hydrogenases resulted in both hydrogen production and uptake. Disabling the pathways for ethanol, lactate, and succinate production significantly increased hydrogen production. Unexpectedly, high expression of exogenous hydrogenase completely repressed hydrogen production, and the introduction of heterologous enzyme repressed the endogenous hydrogen production ability.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jia Zhao, Nan Liao, Jingshan Luo
Summary: Developing high-performance alkaline water electrolyzers using mixed cation NiFe layered double hydroxide (LDH) converted into NiFePx electrocatalyst showed significantly improved hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance compared to NiFe LDH. In situ surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) revealed that NiOOH species were the real active sites, providing evidence that phosphides are unstable for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). An anion-exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzer with NiFePx as the HER catalyst and NiFe LDH as the OER catalyst demonstrated excellent stability and performance.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Qiuyao Jiang, Tianpei Li, Jing Yang, Catherine M. Aitchison, Jiafeng Huang, Yu Chen, Fang Huang, Qiang Wang, Andrew I. Cooper, Lu-Ning Liu
Summary: Researchers engineered the protein organelle in bacteria cells to encapsulate hydrogenases, resulting in improved hydrogen production and catalytic efficiency. This study provides a framework for developing new bio-inspired electrocatalysts for sustainable fuel and chemical production.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Vera Engelbrecht, Kristina Liedtke, Andreas Rutz, Shanika Yadav, Alexander Guenzel, Thomas Happe
Summary: Understanding the algal hydrogen metabolism is crucial for the biotechnological exploitation of photosynthetic H-2 production. The two [FeFe]-hydrogenases in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, HYDA1 and HYDA2, exhibit differences in their affinity to oxidised PETF and catalytic preference for consuming H-2, suggesting potential roles and mechanisms that require further investigation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Michael G. Allan, Thomas Pichon, Jade A. McCune, Christine Cavazza, Alan Le Goff, Moritz F. Kuhnel
Summary: This work demonstrates the performance of [NiFeSe] hydrogenase from Desulfomicrobium baculatum for solar-driven hydrogen generation in a variety of organic-based deep eutectic solvents. It shows that the hydrogenase exhibits remarkable performance under aerobic conditions in these solvents when paired with a TiO2 photocatalyst. The tuning of water content further enhances hydrogen evolution activity and quantum yield. Contrary to common belief, these findings suggest that placing natural hydrogenases in non-natural environments can enhance their intrinsic activity, opening possibilities for full water splitting using hydrogenases.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Alexander Haase, R. Gary Sawers
Summary: The biosynthesis of the NiFe(CN)(2)CO organometallic cofactor of [NiFe]-hydrogenase (Hyd) involves several discreet steps, including the synthesis of the Fe(CN)(2)CO group on a HypD-HypC scaffold complex. This study demonstrates that a conserved histidine residue helps enhance the interaction of the chaperone with HypD, but additionally, and in E. coli only for HybG, acts as a determinant to prevent the inadvertent maturation of the wrong large-subunit precursor.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Qin Fan, Giorgio Caserta, Christian Lorent, Oliver Lenz, Peter Neubauer, Matthias Gimpel
Summary: Hydrogenases are important metalloenzymes that have witnessed significant progress in recent years, albeit with difficulties in low production yields. By heterologously expressing the hydrogenase RH, its yield was substantially increased and single subunits were successfully overproduced, offering a new strategy for bioprocess development and structural studies.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Claudia Brocks, Chandan K. Das, Jifu Duan, Shanika Yadav, Ulf-Peter Apfel, Subhasri Ghosh, Eckhard Hofmann, Martin Winkler, Vera Engelbrecht, Lars V. Schaefer, Thomas Happe
Summary: This study proposes a new strategy to improve the O-2 stability of [FeFe]-hydrogenases by blocking the O-2 diffusion pathway and protecting the catalytic cofactor.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jaehyun Cha, Jinhee Lee, Byoung Wook Jeon, Yong Hwan Kim, Inchan Kwon
Summary: This study proposes a CO2 hydrogenation system that utilizes hydrogenase from Ralstonia eutropha H16 (ReSH) and formate dehydrogenase from Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 (MeFDH1) to efficiently convert carbon dioxide in industrial flue gas into formate via a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent cascade reaction. The enzyme system is tolerant to inhibitors such as carbon monoxide and oxygen, and it can utilize diverse sources of hydrogen and carbon dioxide.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Takeshi Hiromoto, Koji Nishikawa, Seiya Inoue, Hideaki Ogata, Yuta Hori, Katsuhiro Kusaka, Yu Hirano, Kazuo Kurihara, Yasuteru Shigeta, Taro Tamada, Yoshiki Higuchi
Summary: This study reports that [NiFe]-hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Miyazaki F can recover its catalytic activity by reacting with H2 under anaerobic conditions after being inactivated in the presence of O2. Neutron structure analysis revealed that a part of the Ni ion dissociates from the active site Ni-Fe complex and forms a new square-planar Ni complex, accompanied by rearrangement of the coordinated thiolate ligands. The analysis also found that the Cys17(S) thiolate forms an unusual hydrogen bond with the main-chain amide N atom of Gly19(S), providing insights into the redox reaction of the Fe-S cluster.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Victoria Davis, Nina Heidary, Amandine Guiet, Khoa Hoang Ly, Maximilian Zerball, Claudia Schulz, Norbert Michael, Regine von Klitzing, Peter Hildebrandt, Stefan Frielingsdorf, Oliver Lenz, Ingo Zebger, Anna Fischer
Summary: The oxygen tolerance of membrane-bound [NiFe] hydrogenase (MBH) from Cupriavidus necator makes it an attractive electrocatalyst for hydrogen energy conversion devices. By immobilizing MBH with affinity tags on a tin-rich indium tin oxide (ITOTR) electrode, hydrogen oxidation and an unusually high proton reduction current were observed, suggesting bidirectionality in unidirectional [NiFe] hydrogenases. The favorable enzyme-semiconductor interactions contribute to this behavior.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Stephen E. Beaton, Rhiannon M. Evans, Alexander J. Finney, Ciaran M. Lamont, Fraser A. Armstrong, Frank Sargent, Stephen B. Carr
BIOCHEMICAL JOURNAL
(2018)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Magali Roger, Fraser Brown, William Gabrielli, Frank Sargent
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Julian Scherr, Alexander Neuhaus, Kristian Parey, Niklas Klusch, Bonnie J. Murphy, Volker Zickermann, Werner Kuehlbrandt, Andreas Terfort, Daniel Rhinow
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bonnie J. Murphy, Niklas Klusch, Julian Langer, Deryck J. Mills, Oezkan Yildiz, Werner Kuehlbrandt
Article
Microbiology
Marilia de Assis Alcoforado Costa, Richard A. Owen, Triin Tammsalu, Grant Buchanan, Tracy Palmer, Frank Sargent
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alexander J. Finney, Rebecca Lowden, Michel Fleszar, Marta Albareda, Sarah J. Coulthurst, Frank Sargent
MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Microbiology
Alexander J. Finney, Grant Buchanan, Tracy Palmer, Sarah J. Coulthurst, Frank Sargent
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tracy Palmer, Alexander J. Finney, Chayan Kumar Saha, Gemma C. Atkinson, Frank Sargent
Summary: Gram-negative bacteria have evolved various pathways to secrete proteins, with the involvement of holins and cell wall-editing enzymes. The identity of the cell wall-editing enzymes varies across different biological systems, indicating that the secretion pathway may have evolved multiple times. Genomic analysis supports the conservation of this pathway, which is implicated in the secretion of hydrolytic enzymes and toxins in a range of bacteria.
MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rhiannon M. Evans, Natalie Krahn, Bonnie J. Murphy, Harrison Lee, Fraser A. Armstrong, Dieter Soll
Summary: The study investigates the impact of substituting cysteine with selenocysteine on the function of [NiFe]-hydrogenases, revealing that while the activity of the enzymes is reduced after substitution, variants with selenocysteine show significant differences in O-2 tolerance and electrocatalytic properties.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Magali Roger, Thomas C. P. Reed, Frank Sargent
Summary: Escherichia coli, a Gram-negative bacterium, naturally synthesizes formate hydrogenlyase (FHL-1) to disproportion formate into H-2 and CO2 during anaerobic conditions. By engineering an E. coli host strain to continuously produce formic acid from H-2 and CO2, incorporating tungsten in place of molybdenum in FHL-1 demonstrated potential as a hydrogen-dependent CO2 reductase (HDCR) for bio-based carbon capture and storage.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tomohiro Watanabe, Olivia Pfeil-Gardiner, Joerg Kahnt, Juergen Koch, Seigo Shima, Bonnie J. Murphy
Summary: The study reports enzymological and structural characteristics of the CO2 reduction reaction in the methanogenic pathway, revealing the mechanism of the complex using formate and F-420 electron reduction form. Conformational changes in HdrA mediate electron bifurcation, while FmdF directly transfers electrons to the CO2 reduction site, confirming the ubiquity of this complex.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sabine Heit, Maxwell M. G. Geurts, Bonnie J. Murphy, Robin A. Corey, Deryck J. Mills, Werner Kuhlbrandt, Maike Bublitz
Summary: Research has revealed the structure of hexameric Pma1 in fungal plasma membrane, providing insights into its formation and autoinhibition mechanisms for potential drug development. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest lipid-mediated contacts between monomers and a protein-induced membrane deformation that may act as a proton-attracting funnel.
Article
Microbiology
George D. Metcalfe, Frank Sargent, Michael Hippler
Summary: In this study, the metabolism of formic acid and hydrogen in Escherichia coli under anaerobic and micro-aerobic conditions was investigated. Different behaviors of endogenous and exogenous formate were observed, and an anion-proton symport model for formic acid transport was proposed. The addition of exogenous formate induced hydrogen production in the presence of oxygen.
Review
Microbiology
Frank Sargent, R. Gary Sawers
Summary: Marjory Stephenson made remarkable contributions in the field of Microbiology, advocating for an interdisciplinary approach to understand biological systems. Her scientific ethos continues to inspire scientific research today.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Richard A. Owen, Paul K. Fyfe, Adam Lodge, Jacob Biboy, Waldemar Vollmer, William N. Hunter, Frank Sargent
BIOCHEMICAL JOURNAL
(2018)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kecheng Long, Shaozhen Huang, Han Wang, Anbang Wang, Yuejiao Chen, Zhijian Liu, Yu Zhang, Zhibin Wu, Weikun Wang, Libao Chen
Summary: This study proposes a low-cost Li foil surface-reconstruction strategy using a mechanochemistry reaction between fumed silica and Li to achieve dendrite-free Li metal anode. The reconstructed surface enhances the electrode dynamics and constructs an anionphilic interface, leading to significantly improved low-temperature and cycling performance of Li metal batteries while maintaining high energy density and stable cycle performance.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Changchun Ye, Zhenghui Pan, Qinghua Zhang, Fang Yin, Yanan Wang, Yifei Li, Guangxu Chen, Jia Li, Yongcai Qiu, Geoffrey I. N. Waterhouse, Lin Gu, Zhang Lin, Lin Guo
Summary: A facile synthesis route for heterostructured metal oxides via quenching-induced structural transformation was developed. Multiple quenching triggered the transformation from NiMoO4 to NiFe2O4, creating a novel heterostructure, and the pre-quenching generated disordered defect structure can promote subsequent quenching regulation.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yang Liu, Xufei An, Ke Yang, Jiabin Ma, Jinshuo Mi, Danfeng Zhang, Xing Cheng, Yuhang Li, Yuetao Ma, Ming Liu, Feiyu Kang, Yan-Bing He
Summary: The lack of understanding of ion transport in the cathode of PVDF-based solid-state lithium metal batteries limits their performance. The use of carbon-coated Li1.4Al0.4Ti1.6(PO4)3 nanowires as a cathode filler improves the diffusion of ions in the thick cathode, leading to enhanced battery performance and stability.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zixing Wang, Kang Luo, Jian-Fang Wu, Peng Gao, Kexuan Wang, Shi Chen, Jian Tu, Xiulin Fan, Jilei Liu
Summary: This study improves the performance limitations of potassium-ion batteries at extreme temperatures by regulating the ion-solvent-coordinated structure, leading to enhanced cycling performance and capacity retention.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shan Jiang, Ruyue Wang, Minghua Li, Runnan Yu, Fuzhi Wang, Zhan'ao Tan
Summary: This study developed a synergistic electrical and light management strategy to maximize the voltage output in monolithic perovskite/organic tandem solar cells. By optimizing the interface contact and regulating the donor/acceptor ratio, the fabricated cells achieved remarkable power conversion efficiency and high open-circuit voltage.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Gwanho Kim, Jae Won Lee, Kaiying Zhao, Taebin Kim, Woojoong Kim, Jin Woo Oh, Kyuho Lee, Jihye Jang, Guangtao Zan, Jong Woong Park, Seokyeong Lee, Yeonji Kim, Wei Jiang, Shengyou Li, Cheolmin Park
Summary: In this study, a new type of complementary energy harvester that can simultaneously generate moisture-induced and triboelectric power is introduced. This device exhibits high resilience, high energy output, and potential applications in emergency guidance systems.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2024)