Issue 12, 2023

Synthetic engineering of a new biocatalyst encapsulating [NiFe]-hydrogenases for enhanced hydrogen production

Abstract

Hydrogenases are microbial metalloenzymes capable of catalyzing the reversible interconversion between molecular hydrogen and protons with high efficiency, and have great potential in the development of new electrocatalysts for renewable fuel production. Here, we engineered the intact proteinaceous shell of the carboxysome, a self-assembling protein organelle for CO2 fixation in cyanobacteria and proteobacteria, and sequestered heterologously produced [NiFe]-hydrogenases into the carboxysome shell. The protein-based hybrid catalyst produced in E. coli shows substantially improved hydrogen production under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions and enhanced material and functional robustness, compared to unencapsulated [NiFe]-hydrogenases. The catalytically functional nanoreactor as well as the self-assembling and encapsulation strategies provide a framework for engineering new bioinspired electrocatalysts to improve the sustainable production of fuels and chemicals in biotechnological and chemical applications.

Graphical abstract: Synthetic engineering of a new biocatalyst encapsulating [NiFe]-hydrogenases for enhanced hydrogen production

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
22 Dec. 2022
Accepted
20 Febr. 2023
First published
20 Febr. 2023
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2023,11, 2684-2692

Synthetic engineering of a new biocatalyst encapsulating [NiFe]-hydrogenases for enhanced hydrogen production

Q. Jiang, T. Li, J. Yang, C. M. Aitchison, J. Huang, Y. Chen, F. Huang, Q. Wang, A. I. Cooper and L. Liu, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2023, 11, 2684 DOI: 10.1039/D2TB02781J

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