Berggren, G.; Lindblad, P.

Energy Environ. Sci. 2018, 11, 3163-3167, 10.1039/C8EE01975D

[FeFe]-Hydrogenases are hydrogen producing metalloenzymes with excellent catalytic capacities, highly relevant in the context of a future hydrogen economy. Here we demonstrate the synthetic activation of a heterologously expressed [FeFe]-hydrogenase in living cells of Synechocystis PCC 6803, a photoautotrophic microbial chassis with high potential for biotechnological energy applications. H2-Evolution assays clearly show that the non-native, semi-synthetic enzyme links to the native metabolism in living cells.

Berggren, G.

Curr. Opin. Green Sustain. Chem. 2021, 32, 100521, 10.1016/j.cogsc.2021.100521

Hydrogenases are gas processing redox enzymes central in hydrogen metabolism. The interdisciplinary nature of hydrogenase research is underscored by the development of “artificial maturation”, enabling the preparation of semi-synthetic hydrogenases through the incorporation of synthetic cofactors into a range of apo-hydrogenase hosts under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Herein, we discuss how the preparation of such semi-synthetic [FeFe]-hydrogenases has elucidated structural elements of the cofactor critical for catalysis and reactivity towards known inhibitors. It has also provided a convenient method for exploring the biodiversity of this enzyme family and thereby facilitated investigation of the role of the outer-coordination sphere in tuning the reactivity of the H-cluster. In parallel, hijacking the assembly line of the [FeFe]-hydrogenase through incorporation of synthetic precursors has provided detailed insight into the biosynthesis of the H-cluster. Moreover, it has allowed the preparation of Mn analogs of [Fe] hydrogenase.