On the relationship between affinity for molecular hydrogen and the physiological directionality of hydrogenases
2005 ◽
Vol 33
(1)
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pp. 12-14
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Keyword(s):
The physiological significance of the generic reaction H2↔2[H] is not always clear because hydrogenases may function in the breakdown of molecular hydrogen or in its synthesis or in both directions. Fe-hydrogenases have nevertheless been most often associated with proton reduction and NiFe-hydrogenases with hydrogen oxidation. A re-determination of the KM of H2 oxidation by Pyrococcus furiosus NiFe-hydrogenase-I and by Desulfovibrio vulgaris Fe-hydrogenase suggests that affinity for hydrogen has been seriously underestimated and that the kinetics of hydrogen activation in relation to the directionality of hydrogenases should be re-evaluated.