Chakraborty, S.

ChemSusChem 2021, 14, 2237-2246, 10.1002/cssc.202100122

Hydrogenase enzymes produce H2 gas, which can be a potential source of alternative energy. Inspired by the [NiFe] hydrogenases, we report the construction of a de novo-designed artificial hydrogenase (ArH). The ArH is a dimeric coiled coil where two cysteine (Cys) residues are introduced at tandem a/d positions of a heptad to create a tetrathiolato Ni binding site. Spectroscopic studies show that Ni binding significantly stabilizes the peptide producing electronic transitions characteristic of Ni-thiolate proteins. The ArH produces H2 photocatalytically, demonstrating a bell-shaped pH-dependence on activity. Fluorescence lifetimes and transient absorption spectroscopic studies are undertaken to elucidate the nature of pH-dependence, and to monitor the reaction kinetics of the photochemical processes. pH titrations are employed to determine the role of protonated Cys on reactivity. Through combining these results, a fine balance is found between solution acidity and the electron transfer steps. This balance is critical to maximize the production of NiI-peptide and protonation of the NiII−H− intermediate (Ni−R) by a Cys (pKa≈6.4) to produce H2.

Kaiser, E.T.

J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun. 1976, 830, 10.1039/C39760000830

Copper(II) carboxypeptidase A catalyses the oxidation of ascorbic acid and this reaction is inhibited by α-benzylsuccinate, a known inhibitor of the thiolesterase action of the copper enzyme; the pH dependencies of kcat and kcat/Km are similar near pH 7 to those seen for the peptidase and esterase activities of native carboxypeptidase A.

Kokubo, T.; Okano, M.

J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun. 1983, 0, 769-770, 10.1039/C39830000769

The 1:1 complex between an osmate ester and bovine serum albumin was found to be effective as an enantioselective catalyst in the cis-hydroxylation of alkenes, affording diols in up to 68% e.e. and turnover of the catalyst with t-butyl hydroperoxide.