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[NiFe] hydrogenases catalyze the reversible cleavage of molecular hydrogen into protons and electrons. Here, we have studied the impact of temperature and illumination on an oxygen-tolerant and thermostable [NiFe] hydrogenase by IR and EPR spectroscopy. Equilibrium mixtures of two catalytic [NiFe] states, Nia-C and Nia-SR'', were found to drastically change with temperature, indicating a thermal exchange of electrons between the [NiFe] active site and iron-sulfur clusters of the enzyme. In addition, IR and EPR experiments performed under illumination revealed an unusual photochemical response of the enzyme. Nia-SR'', a fully reduced hydride intermediate of the catalytic cycle, was found to be reversibly photoconverted into another catalytic state, Nia-L. In contrast to the well-known photolysis of the more oxidized hydride intermediate Nia-C, photoconversion of Nia-SR'' into Nia-L is an active-site redox reaction that involves light-driven electron transfer towards the enzyme's iron-sulfur clusters. Omitting the ground-state intermediate Nia-C, this direct interconversion of these two states represents a potential photochemical shortcut of the catalytic cycle that integrates multiple redox sites of the enzyme. In total, our findings reveal the non-local redistribution of electrons via thermal and photochemical reaction channels and the potential of accelerating or controlling [NiFe] hydrogenases by light., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

The [CpFe(CO)(CN) 2 ] - unit is an excellent structural model for the Fe(CO)(CN) 2 moiety of the active site found in [NiFe] hydrogenases. Ultrafast infrared (IR) pump-probe and 2D-IR spectroscopy have been used to study K[CpFe(CO)(CN) 2 ] ( M1 ) in a range of protic and polar solvents and as a dry film. Measurements of anharmonicity, intermode vibrational coupling strength, vibrational relaxation time, and solvation dynamics of the CO and CN stretching modes of M1 in H 2 O, D 2 O, methanol, dimethyl sulfoxide, and acetonitrile reveal that H-bonding to the CN ligands plays an important role in defining the spectroscopic characteristics and relaxation dynamics of the Fe(CO)(CN) 2 unit. Comparisons of the spectroscopic and dynamic data obtained for M1 in solution and in a dry film with those obtained for the enzyme led to the conclusion that the protein backbone forms an important part of the bimetallic active site environment via secondary coordination sphere interactions.

Ultrafast two-dimensional infrared (2D-IR) spectroscopy of Escherichia coli Hyd-1 ( Ec Hyd-1) reveals the structural and dynamic influence of the protein scaffold on the Fe(CO)(CN) 2 unit of the active site. Measurements on as-isolated Ec Hyd-1 probed a mixture of active site states including two, which we assign to Ni r -S I/II , that have not been previously observed in the E. coli enzyme. Explicit assignment of carbonyl (CO) and cyanide (CN) stretching bands to each state is enabled by 2D-IR. Energies of vibrational levels up to and including two-quantum vibrationally excited states of the CO and CN modes have been determined along with the associated vibrational relaxation dynamics. The carbonyl stretching mode potential is well described by a Morse function and couples weakly to the cyanide stretching vibrations. In contrast, the two CN stretching modes exhibit extremely strong coupling, leading to the observation of formally forbidden vibrational transitions in the 2D-IR spectra. We show that the vibrational relaxation times and structural dynamics of the CO and CN ligand stretching modes of the enzyme active site differ markedly from those of a model compound K[CpFe(CO)(CN) 2 ] in aqueous solution and conclude that the protein scaffold creates a unique biomolecular environment for the NiFe site that cannot be represented by analogy to simple models of solvation.

NAD + -reducing [NiFe] hydrogenases are valuable biocatalysts for H 2 -based energy conversion and the regeneration of nucleotide cofactors. While most hydrogenases are sensitive toward O 2 and elevated temperatures, the soluble NAD + -reducing [NiFe] hydrogenase from Hydrogenophilus thermoluteolus ( Ht SH) is O 2 -tolerant and thermostable. Thus, it represents a promising candidate for biotechnological applications. Here, we have investigated the catalytic activity and active-site structure of native Ht SH and variants in which a glutamate residue in the active-site cavity was replaced by glutamine, alanine, and aspartate. Our biochemical, spectroscopic, and theoretical studies reveal that at least two active-site states of oxidized Ht SH feature an unusual architecture in which the glutamate acts as a terminal ligand of the active-site nickel. This observation demonstrates that crystallographically observed glutamate coordination represents a native feature of the enzyme. One of these states is diamagnetic and characterized by a very high stretching frequency of an iron-bound active-site CO ligand. Supported by density-functional-theory calculations, we identify this state as a high-valent species with a biologically unprecedented formal Ni(IV) ground state. Detailed insights into its structure and dynamics were obtained by ultrafast and two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy, demonstrating that it represents a conformationally strained state with unusual bond properties. Our data further show that this state is selectively and reversibly formed under oxic conditions, especially upon rapid exposure to high O 2 levels. We conclude that the kinetically controlled formation of this six-coordinate high-valent state represents a specific and precisely orchestrated stereoelectronic response toward O 2 that could protect the enzyme from oxidative damage.

To study metalloenzymes in detail, we developed a new experimental setup allowing the controlled preparation of catalytic intermediates for characterization by various spectroscopic techniques. The in situ monitoring of redox transitions by infrared spectroscopy in enzyme lyophilizate, crystals, and solution during gas exchange in a wide temperature range can be accomplished as well. Two O 2 -tolerant [NiFe]-hydrogenases were investigated as model systems. First, we utilized our platform to prepare highly concentrated hydrogenase lyophilizate in a paramagnetic state harboring a bridging hydride. This procedure proved beneficial for 57 Fe nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy and revealed, in combination with density functional theory calculations, the vibrational fingerprint of this catalytic intermediate. The same in situ IR setup, combined with resonance Raman spectroscopy, provided detailed insights into the redox chemistry of enzyme crystals, underlining the general necessity to complement X-ray crystallographic data with spectroscopic analyses., (© 2021 The Authors. Angewandte Chemie International Edition published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

[FeFe] hydrogenases are highly efficient catalysts for reversible dihydrogen evolution. H 2 turnover involves different catalytic intermediates including a recently characterized hydride state of the active site (H-cluster). Applying cryogenic infrared and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy to an [FeFe] model hydrogenase from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii ( Cr HydA1), we have discovered two new hydride intermediates and spectroscopic evidence for a bridging CO ligand in two reduced H-cluster states. Our study provides novel insights into these key intermediates, their relevance for the catalytic cycle of [FeFe] hydrogenase, and novel strategies for exploring these aspects in detail.

[NiFe] hydrogenases are complex model enzymes for the reversible cleavage of dihydrogen (H 2 ). However, structural determinants of efficient H 2 binding to their [NiFe] active site are not properly understood. Here, we present crystallographic and vibrational-spectroscopic insights into the unexplored structure of the H 2 -binding [NiFe] intermediate. Using an F 420 -reducing [NiFe]-hydrogenase from Methanosarcina barkeri as a model enzyme, we show that the protein backbone provides a strained chelating scaffold that tunes the [NiFe] active site for efficient H 2 binding and conversion. The protein matrix also directs H 2 diffusion to the [NiFe] site via two gas channels and allows the distribution of electrons between functional protomers through a subunit-bridging FeS cluster. Our findings emphasize the relevance of an atypical Ni coordination, thereby providing a blueprint for the design of bio-inspired H 2 -conversion catalysts., (© 2019 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.)

The hydrogen-oxidizing "Knallgas" bacterium Ralstonia eutropha can thrive in aerobic and anaerobic environments and readily switches between heterotrophic and autotrophic metabolism, making it an attractive host for biotechnological applications including the sustainable H 2 -driven production of hydrocarbons. The soluble hydrogenase (SH), one out of four different [NiFe]-hydrogenases in R. eutropha, mediates H 2 oxidation even in the presence of O 2 , thus providing an ideal model system for biological hydrogen production and utilization. The SH reversibly couples H 2 oxidation with the reduction of NAD + to NADH, thereby enabling the sustainable regeneration of this biotechnologically important nicotinamide cofactor. Thus, understanding the interaction of the SH with the cellular NADH/NAD + pool is of high interest. Here, we applied the fluorescent biosensor Frex to measure changes in cytoplasmic [NADH] in R. eutropha cells under different gas supply conditions. The results show that Frex is well-suited to distinguish SH-mediated changes in the cytoplasmic redox status from effects of general anaerobiosis of the respiratory chain. Upon H 2 supply, the Frex reporter reveals a robust fluorescence response and allows for monitoring rapid changes in cellular [NADH]. Compared to the Peredox fluorescence reporter, Frex displays a diminished NADH affinity, which prevents the saturation of the sensor under typical bacterial [NADH] levels. Thus, Frex is a valuable reporter for on-line monitoring of the [NADH]/[NAD + ] redox state in living cells of R. eutropha and other proteobacteria. Based on these results, strategies for a rational optimization of fluorescent NADH sensors are discussed., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Hydrogenases are valuable model enzymes for sustainable energy conversion approaches using H 2 , but rational utilization of these base-metal biocatalysts requires a detailed understanding of the structure and dynamics of their complex active sites. The intrinsic CO and CN - ligands of these metalloenzymes represent ideal chromophores for infrared (IR) spectroscopy, but structural and dynamic insight from conventional IR absorption experiments is limited. Here, we apply ultrafast and two-dimensional (2D) IR spectroscopic techniques, for the first time, to study hydrogenases in detail. Using an O 2 -tolerant [NiFe] hydrogenase as a model system, we demonstrate that IR pump-probe spectroscopy can explore catalytically relevant ligand bonding by accessing high-lying vibrational states. This ultrafast technique also shows that the protein matrix is influential in vibrational relaxation, which may be relevant for energy dissipation from the active site during fast reaction steps. Further insights into the relevance of the active site environment are provided by 2D-IR spectroscopy, which reveals equilibrium dynamics and structural constraints imposed on the H 2 -accepting intermediate of [NiFe] hydrogenases. Both techniques offer new strategies for uniquely identifying redox-structural states in complex catalytic mixtures via vibrational quantum beats and 2D-IR off-diagonal peaks. Together, these findings considerably expand the scope of IR spectroscopy in hydrogenase research, and new perspectives for the characterization of these enzymes and other (bio-)organometallic targets are presented., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2019.)

Using superoxide reductase as a model system, a computational approach reveals how histidine tautomerism tunes the redox properties of metalloenzymes to enable their catalytic function. Inspired by these experimentally inaccessible insights, non-canonical histidine congeners are introduced as new versatile tools for the rational engineering of biological transition metal sites.

Biocatalysts that mediate the H 2 -dependent reduction of NAD + to NADH are attractive from both a fundamental and applied perspective. Here we present the first biochemical and spectroscopic characterization of an NAD + -reducing [NiFe]‑hydrogenase that sustains catalytic activity at high temperatures and in the presence of O 2 , which usually acts as an inhibitor. We isolated and sequenced the four structural genes, hoxFUYH, encoding the soluble NAD + -reducing [NiFe]‑hydrogenase (SH) from the thermophilic betaproteobacterium, Hydrogenophilus thermoluteolus TH-1 T (Ht). The HtSH was recombinantly overproduced in a hydrogenase-free mutant of the well-studied, H 2 -oxidizing betaproteobacterium Ralstonia eutropha H16 (Re). The enzyme was purified and characterized with various biochemical and spectroscopic techniques. Highest H 2 -mediated NAD + reduction activity was observed at 80°C and pH6.5, and catalytic activity was found to be sustained at low O 2 concentrations. Infrared spectroscopic analyses revealed a spectral pattern for as-isolated HtSH that is remarkably different from those of the closely related ReSH and other [NiFe]‑hydrogenases. This indicates an unusual configuration of the oxidized catalytic center in HtSH. Complementary electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic analyses revealed spectral signatures similar to related NAD + -reducing [NiFe]‑hydrogenases. This study lays the groundwork for structural and functional analyses of the HtSH as well as application of this enzyme for H 2 -driven cofactor recycling under oxic conditions at elevated temperatures., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The fluorescent biosensor Frex, recently introduced as a sensitive tool to quantify the NADH concentration in living cells, was characterized by time-integrated and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy regarding its applicability for in vivo measurements. Based on the purified sensor protein, it is shown that the NADH dependence of Frex fluorescence can be described by a Hill function with a concentration of half-maximal sensor response of K D  ≈ 4 µM and a Hill coefficient of n ≈ 2. Increasing concentrations of NADH have moderate effects on the fluorescence lifetime of Frex, which changes by a factor of two from about 500 ps in the absence of NADH to 1 ns under fluorescence-saturating NADH concentrations. Therefore, the observed sevenfold rise of the fluorescence intensity is primarily ascribed to amplitude changes. Notably, the dynamic range of Frex sensitivity towards NADH highly depends on the NAD + concentration, while the apparent K D for NADH is only slightly affected. We found that NAD + has a strong inhibitory effect on the fluorescence response of Frex during NADH sensing, with an apparent NAD + dissociation constant of K I  ≈ 400 µM. This finding was supported by fluorescence lifetime measurements, which showed that the addition of NAD + hardly affects the fluorescence lifetime, but rather reduces the number of Frex molecules that are able to bind NADH. Furthermore, the fluorescence responses of Frex to NADH and NAD + depend critically on pH and temperature. Thus, for in vivo applications of Frex, temperature and pH need to be strictly controlled or considered during data acquisition and analysis. If all these constraints are properly met, Frex fluorescence intensity measurements can be employed to estimate the minimum NADH concentration present within the cell at sufficiently low NAD + concentrations below 100 µM.

To understand the molecular details of O 2 -tolerant hydrogen cycling by a soluble NAD + -reducing [NiFe] hydrogenase, we herein present the first bioinspired heterobimetallic S-oxygenated [NiFe] complex as a structural and vibrational spectroscopic model for the oxygen-inhibited [NiFe] active site. This compound and its non-S-oxygenated congener were fully characterized, and their electronic structures were elucidated in a combined experimental and theoretical study with emphasis on the bridging sulfenato moiety. Based on the vibrational spectroscopic properties of these complexes, we also propose novel strategies for exploring S-oxygenated intermediates in hydrogenases and similar enzymes., (© 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Ralstonia eutropha is a hydrogen-oxidizing ("Knallgas") bacterium that can easily switch between heterotrophic and autotrophic metabolism to thrive in aerobic and anaerobic environments. Its versatile metabolism makes R. eutropha an attractive host for biotechnological applications, including H 2 -driven production of biodegradable polymers and hydrocarbons. H 2 oxidation by R. eutropha takes place in the presence of O 2 and is mediated by four hydrogenases, which represent ideal model systems for both biohydrogen production and H 2 utilization. The so-called soluble hydrogenase (SH) couples reversibly H 2 oxidation with the reduction of NAD + to NADH and has already been applied successfully in vitro and in vivo for cofactor regeneration. Thus, the interaction of the SH with the cellular NADH/NAD + pool is of major interest. In this work, we applied the fluorescent biosensor Peredox to measure the [NADH]:[NAD + ] ratio in R. eutropha cells under different metabolic conditions. The results suggest that the sensor operates close to saturation level, indicating a rather high [NADH]:[NAD + ] ratio in aerobically grown R. eutropha cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that multicomponent analysis of spectrally-resolved fluorescence lifetime data of the Peredox sensor response to different [NADH]:[NAD + ] ratios represents a novel and sensitive tool to determine the redox state of cells., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Superoxide reductases are non-heme iron enzymes that represent valuable model systems for the reductive detoxification of reactive oxygen species. In the present study, we applied different theoretical methods to study the structural dynamics of a prototypical 2Fe-superoxide reductase and its influence on electron transfer towards the active site. Using normal mode and essential dynamics analyses, we could show that enzymes of this type are capable of well-defined, electrostatically triggered domain movements, which may allow conformational proofreading for cellular redox partners involved in intermolecular electron transfer. Moreover, these global modes of motion were found to enable access to molecular configurations with decreased tunnelling distances between the active site and the enzyme's second iron centre. Using all-atom classical molecular dynamics simulations and the tunnelling pathway model, however, we found that electron transfer between the two metal sites is not accelerated under these conditions. This unexpected finding suggests that the unperturbed enzymatic structure is optimized for intramolecular electron transfer, which provides an indirect indication of the biological relevance of such a mechanism. Consistently, efficient electron transfer was found to depend on a distinct route, which is accessible via the equilibrium geometry and characterized by a quasi conserved tyrosine that could enable multistep-tunnelling (hopping). Besides these explicit findings, the present study demonstrates the importance of considering both global and local protein dynamics, and a generalized approach for the functional analysis of these aspects is provided.

Iron hangman complexes exhibit improved catalytic properties regarding O 2 and H 2 O 2 reduction, which are attributed to the presence of a proton donating group in defined vicinity of the catalytic metal centre. Surface enhanced resonance Raman (SERR) and IR (SEIRA) spectro-electrochemistry has been applied concomitantly for the first time to analyse such iron hangman porphyrin complexes attached to electrodes in aqueous solution. While the SERR spectra yield information about the redox state of the central iron, the SEIRA spectra show protonation and deprotonation events of the 2 nd coordination sphere. To investigate the influence of a proton active hanging group on the heterogeneous electron transfer between the iron porphyrin and the electrode, two hangman complexes with either an acid or ester functional group were compared. Using time resolved SERR spectroscopy the electron transfer rates of both complexes were determined. Complexes with an acid group showed a slow electron transfer rate at neutral pH that increased significantly at pH 4, while complexes with an ester group exhibited a much faster, but pH independent rate. SEIRA measurements were able to determine directly for the first time a p K a value of 3.4 of a carboxylic hanging group in the immobilized state that shifted to 5.2 in D 2 O buffer solution. The kinetic data showed an increase of the heterogeneous electron transfer rate with the protonation degree of the acid groups. From these results, we propose a PCET which is strongly modulated by the protonation state of the acid hanging group via hydrogen bond interactions.

Protein immobilization on electrodes is a key concept in exploiting enzymatic processes for bioelectronic devices. For optimum performance, an in-depth understanding of the enzyme-surface interactions is required. Here, we introduce an integral approach of experimental and theoretical methods that provides detailed insights into the adsorption of an oxygen-tolerant [NiFe] hydrogenase on a biocompatible gold electrode. Using atomic force microscopy, ellipsometry, surface-enhanced IR spectroscopy, and protein film voltammetry, we explore enzyme coverage, integrity, and activity, thereby probing both structure and catalytic H2 conversion of the enzyme. Electrocatalytic efficiencies can be correlated with the mode of protein adsorption on the electrode as estimated theoretically by molecular dynamics simulations. Our results reveal that pre-activation at low potentials results in increased current densities, which can be rationalized in terms of a potential-induced re-orientation of the immobilized enzyme.

The regulatory hydrogenase (RH) from Ralstonia eutropha acts as the H2-sensing unit of a two-component system that regulates biosynthesis of the energy conserving hydrogenases of the organism according to the availability of H2. The H2 oxidation activity, which was so far determined in vitro with artificial electron acceptors, has been considered to be insensitive to O2 and CO. It is assumed that bulky isoleucine and phenylalanine amino acid residues close to the NiFe active site "gate" gas access, preventing molecules larger than H2 interacting with the active site. We have carried out sensitive electrochemical measurements to demonstrate that O2 is in fact an inhibitor of H2 oxidation by the RH, and that both H(+) reduction and H2 oxidation are inhibited by CO. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that the inhibitory effect of O2 arises due to interaction of O2 with the active site. Using protein film infrared electrochemistry (PFIRE) under H2 oxidation conditions, in conjunction with solution infrared measurements, we have identified previously unreported oxidized inactive and catalytically active reduced states of the RH active site. These findings suggest that the RH has a rich active site chemistry similar to that of other NiFe hydrogenases.

Covalent attachment of a microporous polymer network (MPN) on a gold surface is presented. A functional bromophenyl-based self-assembled monolayer (SAM) formed on the gold surface acts as co-monomer in the polymerisation of the MPN yielding homogeneous and robust coatings. Covalent binding of the films to the electrode is confirmed by SEIRAS measurements.

Oxygen-tolerant [NiFe] hydrogenases are metalloenzymes that represent valuable model systems for sustainable H2 oxidation and production. The soluble NAD(+)-reducing [NiFe] hydrogenase (SH) from Ralstonia eutropha couples the reversible cleavage of H2 with the reduction of NAD(+) and displays a unique O2 tolerance. Here we performed IR spectroscopic investigations on purified SH in various redox states in combination with density functional theory to provide structural insights into the catalytic [NiFe] center. These studies revealed a standard-like coordination of the active site with diatomic CO and cyanide ligands. The long-lasting discrepancy between spectroscopic data obtained in vitro and in vivo could be solved on the basis of reversible cysteine oxygenation in the fully oxidized state of the [NiFe] site. The data are consistent with a model in which the SH detoxifies O2 catalytically by means of an NADH-dependent (per)oxidase reaction involving the intermediary formation of stable cysteine sulfenates. The occurrence of two catalytic activities, hydrogen conversion and oxygen reduction, at the same cofactor may inspire the design of novel biomimetic catalysts performing H2-conversion even in the presence of O2.

The soluble NAD(+)-reducing hydrogenase (SH) from Ralstonia eutropha H16 belongs to the O2-tolerant subtype of pyridine nucleotide-dependent [NiFe]-hydrogenases. To identify molecular determinants for the O2 tolerance of this enzyme, we introduced single amino acids exchanges in the SH small hydrogenase subunit. The resulting mutant strains and proteins were investigated with respect to their physiological, biochemical, and spectroscopic properties. Replacement of the four invariant conserved cysteine residues, Cys41, Cys44, Cys113, and Cys179, led to unstable protein, strongly supporting their involvement in the coordination of the iron-sulfur cluster proximal to the catalytic [NiFe] center. The Cys41Ser exchange, however, resulted in an SH variant that displayed up to 10% of wild-type activity, suggesting that the coordinating role of Cys41 might be partly substituted by the nearby Cys39 residue, which is present only in O2-tolerant pyridine nucleotide-dependent [NiFe]-hydrogenases. Indeed, SH variants carrying glycine, alanine, or serine in place of Cys39 showed increased O2 sensitivity compared to that of the wild-type enzyme. Substitution of further amino acids typical for O2-tolerant SH representatives did not greatly affect the H2-oxidizing activity in the presence of O2. Remarkably, all mutant enzymes investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy did not reveal significant spectral changes in relation to wild-type SH, showing that the proximal iron-sulfur cluster does not contribute to the wild-type spectrum. Interestingly, exchange of Trp42 by serine resulted in a completely redox-inactive [NiFe] site, as revealed by infrared spectroscopy and H2/D(+) exchange experiments. The possible role of this residue in electron and/or proton transfer is discussed.

Hydrogenases are complex metalloenzymes that catalyze the reversible splitting of molecular hydrogen into protons and electrons essentially without overpotential. The NAD + -reducing soluble hydrogenase (SH) from Ralstonia eutropha is capable of H 2 conversion even in the presence of usually toxic dioxygen. The molecular details of the underlying reactions are largely unknown, mainly because of limited knowledge of the structure and function the various metal cofactors present in the enzyme. Here all iron-containing cofactors of the SH were investigated by 57 Fe specific nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS). Our data provide experimental evidence for one [2Fe2S] center and four [4Fe4S] clusters, which is consistent with amino acid sequence composition. Only the [2Fe2S] cluster and one of the four [4Fe4S] clusters were reduced upon incubation of the SH with NADH. This finding explains the discrepancy between the large number of FeS clusters and the small amount of FeS cluster-related signals as detected by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic analysis of several NAD + -reducing hydrogenases. For the first time, Fe-CO and Fe-CN modes derived from the [NiFe] active site could be distinguished by NRVS through selective 13 C labeling of the CO ligand. This strategy also revealed the molecular coordinates that dominate the individual Fe-CO modes. The present approach explores the complex vibrational signature of the Fe-S clusters and the hydrogenase active site, thereby showing that NRVS represents a powerful tool for the elucidation of complex biocatalysts containing multiple cofactors.

[NiFe] hydrogenases catalyze the reversible cleavage of hydrogen and, thus, represent model systems for the investigation and exploitation of emission-free energy conversion processes. Valuable information on the underlying molecular mechanisms can be obtained by spectroscopic techniques that monitor individual catalytic intermediates. Here, we employed resonance Raman spectroscopy and extended it to the entire binuclear active site of an oxygen-tolerant [NiFe] hydrogenase by probing the metal-ligand modes of both the Fe and, for the first time, the Ni ion. Supported by theoretical methods, this approach allowed for monitoring H-transfer from the active site and revealed novel insights into the so far unknown structure and electronic configuration of the hydrogen-binding intermediate of the catalytic cycle, thereby providing key information about catalytic intermediates and reactions of biological hydrogen activation.

Hydrogenases catalyse the reversible cleavage of molecular hydrogen into protons and electrons. While most of these enzymes are inhibited under aerobic conditions, some hydrogenases are catalytically active even at ambient oxygen levels. In particular, the soluble [NiFe] hydrogenase from Ralstonia eutropha H16 couples reversible hydrogen cycling to the redox conversion of NAD(H). Its insensitivity towards oxygen has been formerly ascribed to the putative presence of additional cyanide ligands at the active site, which has been, however, discussed controversially. Based on quantum chemical calculations of model compounds, we demonstrate that spectroscopic consequences of the proposed non-standard set of inorganic ligands are in contradiction to the underlying experimental findings. In this way, the previous model for structure and function of this soluble hydrogenase is disproved on a fundamental level, thereby highlighting the efficiency of computational methods for the evaluation of experimentally derived mechanistic proposals., (Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Combined molecular dynamics (MD) and quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) calculations were performed on the crystal structure of the reduced membrane-bound [NiFe] hydrogenase (MBH) from Ralstonia eutropha to determine the absolute configuration of the CO and the two CN(-) ligands bound to the active-site iron of the enzyme. For three models that include the CO ligand at different positions, often indistinguishable on the basis of the crystallographic data, we optimized the structures and calculated the ligand stretching frequencies. Comparison with the experimental IR data reveals that the CO ligand is in trans position to the substrate-binding site of the bimetallic [NiFe] cluster., (Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

From mouse studies to recently published clinical trials, evidence has accumulated on the potential use of regulatory T cells (Treg) in preventing and treating graft-versus-host disease following hematopoietic-cell transplantation (HCT). However, controversies remain as to the phenotype and stability of various Treg subsets and their respective roles in vivo, the requirement of antigen-specificity of Treg to reduce promiscuous suppression, and the molecular mechanisms by which Treg suppress, particularly in humans. In this review, we discuss recent findings that support a heterogeneous population of human Treg, address advances in understanding how Treg function in the context of HCT, and present data on recent clinical trials that highlight the feasibility and limitations on Treg immunotherapy for graft-versus-host disease.