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Hydrogenases are metalloenzymes that catalyze the reversible oxidation of molecular hydrogen into protons and electrons. For this purpose, [FeFe]-hydrogenases utilize a hexanuclear iron cofactor, the H-cluster. This biologically unique cofactor provides the enzyme with outstanding catalytic activities, but it is also highly oxygen sensitive. Under in vitro conditions, oxygen stable forms of the H-cluster denoted Htrans and Hinact can be generated via treatment with sulfide under oxidizing conditions. Herein, we show that an Htrans-like species forms spontaneously under intracellular conditions on a time scale of hours, concurrent with the cells ceasing H2 production. Addition of cysteine or sulfide during the maturation promotes the formation of this H-cluster state. Moreover, it is found that formation of the observed Htrans-like species is influenced by both steric factors and proton transfer, underscoring the importance of outer coordination sphere effects on H-cluster reactivity. Graphical abstract

Hydrogenases are metalloenzymes that catalyze the reversible oxidation of molecular hydrogen into protons and electrons. For this purpose, [FeFe]-hydrogenases utilize a hexanuclear iron cofactor, the H-cluster. This biologically unique cofactor provides the enzyme with outstanding catalytic activities, but it is also highly oxygen sensitive. Under in vitro conditions, oxygen stable forms of the H-cluster denoted H

Hydrogenases are among the fastest H2 evolving catalysts known to date and have been extensively studied under in vitro conditions. Here, we report the first mechanistic investigation of an [FeFe]-hydrogenase under in vivo conditions. Functional [FeFe]-hydrogenase from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is generated in genetically modified Escherichia coli cells, by addition of a synthetic cofactor to the growth medium. The assembly and reactivity of the resulting semi-synthetic enzyme was monitored using whole-cell electron paramagnetic resonance as well as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Through a combination of gas treatments, pH titrations and isotope editing, we were able to corroborate the physiological relevance of a number of proposed catalytic intermediates, including reactive iron-hydride species. We demonstrate the formation of the so-called hydride state in vivo. Moreover, two previously uncharacterized redox species are reported herein, illustrating the complex metal hydride chemistry of [FeFe]-hydrogenase.

Hydrogenases are among the fastest H2 evolving catalysts known to date and have been extensively studied under in vitro conditions. Here, we report the first mechanistic investigation of an [FeFe]-hydrogenase under whole-cell conditions. Functional [FeFe]-hydrogenase from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is generated in genetically modified Escherichia coli cells by addition of a synthetic cofactor to the growth medium. The assembly and reactivity of the resulting semi-synthetic enzyme was monitored using whole-cell electron paramagnetic resonance and Fourier-transform Infrared difference spectroscopy as well as scattering scanning near-field optical microscopy. Through a combination of gas treatments, pH titrations, and isotope editing we were able to corroborate the formation of a number of proposed catalytic intermediates in living cells, supporting their physiological relevance. Moreover, a previously incompletely characterized catalytic intermediate is reported herein, attributed to the formation of a protonated metal hydride species., The mechanism of hydrogen gas formation by [FeFe] hydrogenase is probed under whole cell conditions, revealing the formation of reactive metal hydride species under physiologically relevant conditions.

The Hydrogen Dependent Carbon dioxide Reductase (HDCR) from Acetobacterium woodii presents a promising solution to the issue of H2 storage by reversibly coupling H2 oxidation to CO2 reduction. We here report on the electrocatalytic properties of the hydrogenase (Hase) module in the intact complex, including (an)aerobic oxidation, CO inhibition and the first systematic analysis of the catalytic bias (CB) of a Hase. CB depends on pH, regardless of the H2 concentration, despite a higher affinity for H2 than other FeFe-Hases. Remarkably, CO inhibition is fully reversible under all oxidation states of the active site, making HDCR the first “syngas-friendly” FeFe-Hase.

Hydrogenases are among the fastest H2 evolving catalysts known to date and have been extensively studied under in vitro conditions. Here, we report the first mechanistic investigation of an [FeFe]-hydrogenase under in vivo conditions. Functional [FeFe]-hydrogenase from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is generated in genetically modified Escherichia coli cells, by addition of a synthetic cofactor to the growth medium. The assembly and reactivity of the resulting semi-synthetic enzyme was monitored using whole-cell electron paramagnetic resonance as well as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Through a combination of gas treatments, pH titrations and isotope editing, we were able to corroborate the physiological relevance of a number of proposed catalytic intermediates, including reactive iron-hydride species. We demonstrate the formation of the so-called hydride state in vivo. Moreover, two previously uncharacterized redox species are reported herein, illustrating the complex metal hydride chemistry of [FeFe]-hydrogenase.

A new screening method for [FeFe]-hydrogenases is described, circumventing the need for specialized expression conditions as well as protein purification for initial characterization. [FeFe]-hydrogenases catalyze the formation and oxidation of molecular hydrogen at rates exceeding 10(3) s(-1), making them highly promising for biotechnological applications. However, the discovery of novel [FeFe]-hydrogenases is slow due to their oxygen sensitivity and dependency on a structurally unique cofactor, complicating protein expression and purification. Consequently, only a very limited number have been characterized, hampering their implementation. With the purpose of increasing the throughput of [FeFe]-hydrogenase discovery, we have developed a screening method that allows for rapid identification of novel [FeFe]-hydrogenases as well as their characterization with regards to activity (activity assays and protein film electrochemistry) and spectroscopic properties (electron paramagnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy). The method is based on in vivo artificial maturation of [FeFe]-hydrogenases in Escherichia coli and all procedures are performed on either whole cells or non-purified cell lysates, thereby circumventing extensive protein purification. The screening was applied on eight putative [FeFe]-hydrogenases originating from different structural sub-classes and resulted in the discovery of two new active [FeFe]-hydrogenases. The [FeFe]-hydrogenase from Solobacterium moorei shows high H-2-gas production activity, while the enzyme from Thermoanaerobacter mathranii represents a hitherto uncharacterized [FeFe]-hydrogenase sub-class. This latter enzyme is a putative sensory hydrogenase and our in vivo spectroscopy study reveals distinct differences compared to the well established H-2 producing HydA1 hydrogenase from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

International audience; Hydrogenases reversibly catalyze the oxidation of molecular hydrogen and are inhibited by several small molecules including O2, CO and NO. In the present work, we investigate the mechanism of inhibition by NO of the oxygen-sensitive NiFe hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio fructosovorans by coupling site-directed mutagenesis, protein film voltammetry (PFV) and EPR spectroscopy. We show that micromolar NO strongly inhibits NiFe hydrogenase and that the mechanism of inhibition is complex, with NO targeting several metallic sites in the protein. NO reacts readily at the NiFe active site according to a two-step mechanism. The first and faster step is the reversible binding of NO to the active site followed by a slower and irreversible transformation at the active site. NO also induces irreversible damage of the iron–sulfur centers chain. We give direct evidence of preferential nitrosylation of the medial [3Fe–4S] to form dinitrosyl–iron complexes.

International audience; Over the past decades, a number of authors have reported the presence of inactive species in as-prepared samples of members of the Mo/W-bisPGD enzyme family. This greatly complicated the spectroscopic studies of these enzymes, since it is impossible to discriminate between active and inactive species on the basis of the spectroscopic signatures alone. Escherichia coli nitrate reductase A (NarGHI) is a member of the Mo/W-bisPGD family that allows anaerobic respiration using nitrate as terminal electron acceptor. Here, using protein film voltammetry on NarGH films, we show that the enzyme is purified in a functionally heterogeneous form that contains between 20 and 40% of inactive species that activate the first time they are reduced. This activation proceeds in two steps: a non-redox reversible reaction followed by an irreversible reduction. By carefully correlating electrochemical and EPR spectroscopic data, we show that neither the two major Mo(V) signals nor those of the two FeS clusters that are the closest to the Mo center are associated with the two inactive species. We also conclusively exclude the possibility that the major “low-pH” and “high-pH” Mo(V) EPR signatures correspond to species in acid–base equilibrium.

International audience; Respiratory nitrate reductases (Nars), members of the prokaryotic Mo/W-bis Pyranopterin Guanosine dinucleotide (Mo/W-bisPGD) enzyme superfamily, are key players in nitrate respiration, a major bioenergetic pathway widely used by microorganisms to cope with the absence of dioxygen. The two-electron reduction of nitrate to nitrite takes place at their active site, where the molybdenum ion cycles between Mo(VI) and Mo(IV) states via a Mo(V) intermediate. The active site shows two distinct pH-dependent Mo(V) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signals whose structure and catalytic relevance have long been debated. In this study, we use EPR and HYSCORE techniques to probe their nuclear environment in Escherichia coli Nar (EcNar). By using samples prepared at different pH and through different enrichment strategies in 98Mo and 15N nuclei, we demonstrate that each of the two Mo(V) species is coupled to a single nitrogen nucleus with similar quadrupole characteristics. Structure-based density functional theory calculations allow us to propose a molecular model of the low-pH Mo(V) species consistent with EPR spectroscopic data. Our results show that the metal ion is coordinated by a monodentate aspartate ligand and permit the assignment of the coupled nitrogen nuclei to the Nδ of Asn52, a residue located ∼3.9 Å to the Mo atom in the crystal structures. This is confirmed by measurements on selectively 15N-Asn labeled EcNar. Further, we propose a Mo-O(H)···HN structure to account for the transfer of spin density onto the interacting nitrogen nucleus deduced from HYSCORE analysis. This work provides a foundation for monitoring the structure of the molybdenum active site in the presence of various substrates or inhibitors in Nars and other molybdenum enzymes.

Respiratory nitrate reductases (Nars), members of the prokaryotic Mo/W-bis Pyranopterin Guanosine dinucleotide (Mo/W-bisPGD) enzyme superfamily, are key players in nitrate respiration, a major bioenergetic pathway widely used by microorganisms to cope with the absence of dioxygen. The two-electron reduction of nitrate to nitrite takes place at their active site, where the molybdenum ion cycles between Mo(VI) and Mo(IV) states via a Mo(V) intermediate. The active site shows two distinct pH-dependent Mo(V) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signals whose structure and catalytic relevance have long been debated. In this study, we use EPR and HYSCORE techniques to probe their nuclear environment in Escherichia coli Nar (EcNar). By using samples prepared at different pH and through different enrichment strategies in

With turnover frequencies up to 106 s-1, hydrogenases are the fastest molecular hydrogen catalyst. They are classified according to the metal content of their active, distinguishing the NiFe and FeFe as the two major classes. The two classes display an outstanding organometallic cofactor, with cyanido- and carbonyl- groups coordinating the metals. Their mechanism includes the stabilization of a metal-hydride state as the most reduced intermediate of the catalytic cycle. Hydrogenase (Hase) have driven mechanistic studies for decades, including extensive works by protein film electrochemistry targetting aspects as diverse as intramolecular diffusion of gases, long distance electron transfer, or susceptibility to inhibitors. This communication will focus on two other questions, distinguishing steady state functioning and in-activation processes (see figure). The catlaytic bias is the ability of an enzyme to turnover faster one direction than another. Amongst hydrogenases, the catalytic bias spans full range, from extremely biased to essentially neutral enzymes. Several works have brought clues to understand the molecular basis of the catalytic bias for both Hase classes, pointing out to the intramolecular electron transfer chain as the main effector. Our recent results on the study of the hydrogen dependent CO2 reductase reveal the role of the affinity for hydrogen in the bias. The susceptibility to overpotential corresponds to in-activation processes triggered by redox conditions that are far from equilibrium, and plausibly encountered in the life cycle of bioelectrochemical devices. One particular phenomenon is the reductive inactivation of FeFe-Hases, undergoing both in solution and on the electrode, that remains largely to understand. Our works on the enzyme HydA1 from microalgae suggest that this inactivation can be reversed under maintained reductive conditions, unlike discussed in the literature. Figure 1

Over the past two decades, prominent importance of molybdenum-containing enzymes in prokaryotes has been put forward by studies originating from different fields. Proteomic or bioinformatic studies underpinned that the list of molybdenum-containing enzymes is far from being complete with to date, more than fifty different enzymes involved in the biogeochemical nitrogen, carbon and sulfur cycles. In particular, the vast majority of prokaryotic molybdenum-containing enzymes belong to the so-called dimethylsulfoxide reductase family. Despite its extraordinary diversity, this family is characterized by the presence of a Mo/W-bis(pyranopterin guanosine dinucleotide) cofactor at the active site. This review highlights what has been learned about the properties of the catalytic site, the modular variation of the structural organization of these enzymes, and their interplay with the isoprenoid quinones. In the last part, this review provides an integrated view of how these enzymes contribute to the bioenergetics of prokaryotes. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Metals in Bioenergetics and Biomimetics Systems.

Over the past two decades, prominent importance of molybdenum/tungsten-containing enzymes in prokaryotes has been put forward by studies originating from different fields providing a unique combination of knowledge. Proteomic or bioinformatic studies underpinned that the list of molybdenum/tungsten-containing enzymes is far from being complete with, to date, more than 50 different enzymes involved in the biogeochemical nitrogen, carbon and sulfur cycles. In particular, the vast majority of prokaryotic molybdenum-/tungsten-containing enzymes belong to the so-called DMSO reductase family. Despite its extraordinary diversity, this family is characterized by the presence of a Mo/W-bis(pyranopterin guanosine dinucleotide) cofactor at the active site with a yet uncovered reactivity. This chapter highlights the substrate specificity of their catalytic site, the modular variation of their structural organization and their contribution to the bioenergetics of prokaryotes.

In hydrogenases and many other redox enzymes, the buried active site is connected to the solvent by a molecular channel whose structure may determine the enzyme's selectivity with respect to substrate and inhibitors. The role of these channels has been addressed using crystallography and molecular dynamics, but kinetic data are scarce. Using protein film voltammetry, we determined and then compared the rates of inhibition by CO and O2 in ten NiFe hydrogenase mutants and two FeFe hydrogenases. We found that the rate of inhibition by CO is a good proxy of the rate of diffusion of O2 toward the active site. Modifying amino acids whose side chains point inside the tunnel can slow this rate by orders of magnitude. We quantitatively define the relations between diffusion, the Michaelis constant for H2 and rates of inhibition, and we demonstrate that certain enzymes are slowly inactivated by O2 because access to the active site is slow.

We propose a resolution to the paradox that spectroscopic studies of NiFeSe hydrogenase have not revealed any major signal attributable to NiIII states formed upon reaction with O2, despite the fact that two inactive states are formed upon either aerobic or anaerobic oxidation.

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Abstract [FeFe]-hydrogenase enzymes employ a unique organometallic cofactor for efficient and reversible hydrogen conversion. This so-called H-cluster consists of a [4Fe–4S] cubane cysteine linked to a diiron complex coordinated by carbon monoxide and cyanide ligands and an azadithiolate ligand (adt = NH(CH2S)2)·[FeFe]-hydrogenase apo-protein binding only the [4Fe–4S] sub-complex can be fully activated in vitro by the addition of a synthetic diiron site precursor complex ([2Fe]adt). Elucidation of the mechanism of cofactor assembly will aid in the design of improved hydrogen processing synthetic catalysts. We combined electron paramagnetic resonance, Fourier-transform infrared, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy to characterize intermediates of H-cluster assembly as initiated by mixing of the apo-protein (HydA1) from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii with [2Fe]adt. The three methods consistently show rapid formation of a complete H-cluster in the oxidized, CO-inhibited state (Hox-CO) already within seconds after the mixing. Moreover, FTIR spectroscopy support a model in which Hox-CO formation is preceded by a short-lived Hred′-CO-like intermediate. Accumulation of Hox-CO was followed by CO release resulting in the slower conversion to the catalytically active state (Hox) as well as formation of reduced states of the H-cluster. Graphic abstract

Esta investigación se publicó originalmente en el Journal of Biological Chemistry. Abou-Hamdan, A.; Ceccaldi, P.; Lebrette, Hugo; Gutiérrez-Sanz, Óscar ; Richaud, P.; Cournac, L.; Guigliarelli, Bruno; López de Lacey, Antonio ; Léger, Christophe; Volbeda, A.; Burlat, Bénédicte; Dementin, Sébastien. A threonine stabilizes the NiC and NiR catalytic intermediates of [NiFe]-hydrogenase. J. Biol. Chem 2015; 290(13): 8550-8558. © 2015 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc., The heterodimeric [NiFe] hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio fructosovorans catalyzes the reversible oxidation of H2 into protons and electrons. The catalytic intermediates have been attributed to forms of the active site (NiSI, NiR, and NiC) detected using spectroscopic methods under potentiometric but non-catalytic conditions. Here, we produced variants by replacing the conserved Thr-18 residue in the small subunit with Ser, Val, Gln, Gly, or Asp, and we analyzed the effects of these mutations on the kinetic (H2 oxidation, H2 production, and H/D exchange), spectroscopic (IR, EPR), and structural properties of the enzyme. The mutations disrupt the H-bond network in the crystals and have a strong effect on H2 oxidation and H2 production turnover rates. However, the absence of correlation between activity and rate of H/D exchange in the series of variants suggests that the alcoholic group of Thr-18 is not necessarily a proton relay. Instead, the correlation between H2 oxidation and production activity and the detection of the NiC species in reduced samples confirms that NiC is a catalytic intermediate and suggests that Thr-18 is important to stabilize the local protein structure of the active site ensuring fast NiSI-NiC-NiR interconversions during H2 oxidation/production., This work was supported by the CNRS, the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (HYLIOX and HEROS projects: ANR-07-BIOE-010 and ANR-14-CE05- 0010), the Aix-Marseille Université, and the City of Marseilles. This work was also supported by grants from the CNRS and the Région Provence-Alpes Côte d’Azur (to A. A.-H.), the Spanish MINECO CTQ2012-32448 project (A. L. D. L.), the Spanish FPI program (to O. G.-S.), the Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA), and the CNRS (to H. L. and A. V.)

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