Issue 35, 2024

The missing pieces in the catalytic cycle of [FeFe] hydrogenases

Abstract

Hydrogen could provide a suitable means for storing energy from intermittent renewable sources for later use on demand. However, many challenges remain regarding the activity, specificity, stability and sustainability of current hydrogen production and consumption methods. The lack of efficient catalysts based on abundant and sustainable elements lies at the heart of this problem. Nature's solution led to the evolution of hydrogenase enzymes capable of reversible hydrogen conversion at high rates using iron- and nickel-based active sites. Through a detailed understanding of these enzymes, we can learn how to mimic them to engineer a new generation of highly active synthetic catalysts. Incredible progress has been made in our understanding of biological hydrogen activation over the last few years. In particular, detailed studies of the [FeFe] hydrogenase class have provided substantial insight into a sophisticated, optimised, molecular catalyst, the active site H-cluster. In this short perspective, we will summarise recent findings and highlight the missing pieces needed to complete the puzzle.

Graphical abstract: The missing pieces in the catalytic cycle of [FeFe] hydrogenases

Article information

Article type
Perspective
Submitted
19 jun 2024
Accepted
02 aug 2024
First published
07 aug 2024
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2024,15, 14062-14080

The missing pieces in the catalytic cycle of [FeFe] hydrogenases

M. T. Lachmann, Z. Duan, P. Rodríguez-Maciá and J. A. Birrell, Chem. Sci., 2024, 15, 14062 DOI: 10.1039/D4SC04041D

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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