Understanding and harnessing hydrogenases, biological dihydrogen catalysts

Met Ions Life Sci. 2014:14:99-124. doi: 10.1007/978-94-017-9269-1_5.

Abstract

It has been estimated that 99 % of all organisms utilize dihydrogen (H2). Most of these species are microbes and their ability to use H₂as a metabolite arises from the expression of H2 metalloenzymes known as hydrogenases. These molecules have been the focus of intense biological, biochemical, and chemical research because hydrogenases are biotechnologically relevant enzymes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Catalysis
  • Conservation of Energy Resources / methods*
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen / chemistry*
  • Hydrogenase / chemistry
  • Hydrogenase / metabolism*
  • Iron / chemistry
  • Metabolic Engineering / methods
  • Microbial Consortia
  • Nickel / chemistry
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Solar Energy

Substances

  • Nickel
  • Hydrogen
  • Iron
  • nickel-iron-selenium hydrogenase
  • Hydrogenase