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Hydrogenases: Hydrogen‐Activating Enzymes
Author(s) -
Frey Michel
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
chembiochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.05
H-Index - 126
eISSN - 1439-7633
pISSN - 1439-4227
DOI - 10.1002/1439-7633(20020301)3:2/3<153::aid-cbic153>3.0.co;2-b
Subject(s) - hydrogenase , catalysis , hydrogen , enzyme , chemistry , metabolite , biocatalysis , combinatorial chemistry , active site , biochemistry , organic chemistry , stereochemistry , reaction mechanism
Hydrogen is an important metabolite for many microrganisms. H 2 is either produced or consumed by hydrogenase enzymes, according to the reaction: H 2 ⇌2 H + + 2 e − . The catalytic sites of the two major families of hydrogenases include a dinuclear center, either NiFe (see picture) or FeFe, along with proteic and nonproteic ligands. The structure and activity of these sites are currently being studied, with the aim of designing cheap biological or chemical catalysts able to produce hydrogen, the ideal clean fuel.