Liu, X.; Wang, J.; Wu, Y.; Zhong, F.

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 617-622, 10.1021/jacs.0c10882

Devising artificial photoenzymes for abiological bond-forming reactions is of high synthetic value but also a tremendous challenge. Disclosed herein is the first photobiocatalytic cross-coupling of aryl halides enabled by a designer artificial dehalogenase, which features a genetically encoded benzophenone chromophore and site-specifically modified synthetic NiII(bpy) cofactor with tunable proximity to streamline the dual catalysis. Transient absorption studies suggest the likelihood of energy transfer activation in the elementary organometallic event. This design strategy is viable to significantly expand the catalytic repertoire of artificial photoenzymes for useful organic transformations.

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.

Marshall, N.M.

Comprehensive Inorganic Chemistry II 2013, 565-593, 10.1016/B978-0-08-097774-4.00325-9

Metalloproteins catalyze numerous biological reactions ranging from photosynthesis, respiration, nitrogen fixation to signal transduction and complex chemical reactions. It is thus not surprising that metalloproteins account for almost one-half of the total number of proteins in nature. A considerable effort has been directed toward understanding the structure–function relationships using native proteins. However, it is an ultimate challenge to design metalloproteins using only the minimal features required to reproduce their functionalities as well as confer them with novel and unprecedented functionalities learned from the design process. In this chapter, we review some recent successes in the field of metalloprotein design using either de novo designed or native protein scaffolds. Furthermore, metalloprotein design employing unnatural amino acids or non-native cofactor are summarized. Finally, methodologies employing rational design, combinatorial selection, or both methods are also discussed.