NAD(H)-coupled hydrogen cycling - structure-function relationships of bidirectional [NiFe] hydrogenases

Hydrogenases catalyze the activation or production of molecular hydrogen. Due to their potential importance for future biotechnological applications, these enzymes have been in the focus of intense research for the past decades. Bidirectional [NiFe] hydrogenases are of particular interest as they couple the reversible cleavage of hydrogen to the redox conversion of NAD(H). In this account, we review the current state of knowledge about mechanistic aspects and structural determinants of these complex multi-cofactor enzymes. Special emphasis is laid on the oxygen-tolerant NAD(H)-linked bidirectional [NiFe] hydrogenase from Ralstonia eutropha. (C) 2011 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved

Predicting sinusoidal obstruction syndrome after allogeneic stem cell transplantation with the EASIX biomarker panel

No biomarker panel is established for prediction of sinusoidal obstruction syndrome/veno-occlusive disease (SOS/VOD), a major complication of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT). We compared the potential of the Endothelial Activation and Stress Index (EASIX), based on lactate dehydrogenase, creatinine, and thrombocytes, with that of the SOS/VOD CIBMTR clinical risk score to predict SOS/VOD in two independent cohorts. In a third cohort, we studied the impact of endothelium-active prophylaxis with pravastatin and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDA) on SOS/VOD risk. The cumulative incidence of SOS/VOD within 28 days after alloSCT in the training cohort (Berlin, 2013-2015, n=446) and in the validation cohort (Heidelberg, 2002-2009, n=380) was 9.6% and 8.4%, respectively. In both cohorts, EASIX assessed at the day of alloSCT (EASIX-d0) was significantly associated with SOS/VOD incidence (p<0.0001), overall survival (OS) and non-relapse mortality (NRM). In contrast, the CIBMTR score showed no statistically significant association with SOS/VOD incidence, and did not predict OS and NRM. In patients receiving pravastatin/UDA, the cumulative incidence of SOS/VOD was significantly lower at 1.7% (p<0.0001, Heidelberg, 2010-2015, n=359) than in the two cohorts not receiving pravastatin/UDA. The protective effect was most pronounced in patients with high EASIX-d0. The cumulative SOS/VOD incidence in the highest EASIX-d0 quartiles were 18.1% and 16.8% in both cohorts without endothelial prophylaxis as compared to 2.2% in patients with pravastatin/UDA prophylaxis (p<0.0001). EASIX-d0 is the first validated biomarker for defining a subpopulation of alloSCT recipients at high risk for SOS/VOD. Statin/UDA endothelial prophylaxis could constitute a prophylactic measure for patients at increased SOS/VOD risk

H2 as a fuel for flavin- and H2O2-dependent biocatalytic reactions

The soluble hydrogenase from Ralstonia eutropha provides an atom efficient regeneration system for reduced flavin cofactors using H2 as an electron source. We demonstrated this system for highly selective ene-reductase-catalyzed C[double bond, length as m-dash]C-double bond reductions and monooxygenase-catalyzed epoxidation. Reactions were expanded to aerobic conditions to supply H2O2 for peroxygenase-catalyzed hydroxylations.DFG, 284111627, H2-basierende Kaskaden für die Biosynthese von N-HeterocyclenDFG, 405325648, ,Engineering von O2-toleranten Hydrogenasen und ihre physiologischen Auswirkungen in rekombinanten Bakterien im Hinblick auf die Hydrogenase-abhängige NAD(P)H-Regeneration und H2-ProduktionDFG, 390540038, EXC 2008: UniSysCatTU Berlin, Open-Access-Mittel - 202

Synthesis of N-heterocycles from diamines via H2-driven NADPH recycling in the presence of O2

Herein, we report an enzymatic cascade involving an oxidase, an imine reductase and a hydrogenase for the H2-driven synthesis of N-heterocycles. Variants of putrescine oxidase from Rhodococcus erythropolis with improved activity were identified. Substituted pyrrolidines and piperidines were obtained with up to 97% product formation in a one-pot reaction directly from the corresponding diamine substrates. The formation of up to 93% ee gave insights into the specificity and selectivity of the putrescine oxidase.DFG, 53182490, EXC 314: Unifying Concepts in CatalysisDFG, 284111627, H2-basierende Kaskaden für die Biosynthese von N-HeterocyclenTU Berlin, Open-Access-Mittel - 201

H-2-driven biotransformation of n-octane to 1-octanol by a recombinant Pseudomonas putida strain co-synthesizing an O-2-tolerant hydrogenase and a P450 monooxygenase

An in vivo biotransformation system is presented that affords the hydroxylation of n-octane to 1-octanol on the basis of NADH-dependent CYP153A monooxygenase and NAD(+)-reducing hydrogenase heterologously synthesized in a bacterial host. The hydrogenase sustains H-2-driven NADH cofactor regeneration even in the presence of O-2, the co-substrate of monooxygenase.DFG, EXC 314, Unifying Concepts in CatalysisEC/FP7/297503/EU/Modular beads for regeneration of bio-cofactors in enzyme-catalysed synthesis/HydRege

Bench-scale fire stability testing – Assessment of protective systems on carbon fibre reinforced polymer composites

Abstract Fire resistance testing of components made of carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRP) usually demands intermediate-scale or full-scale testing. A bench-scale test is presented as a practicable and efficient method to assess how different fire protective systems improve the structural integrity of CFRPs during fire. The direct flame of a fully developed fire was applied to one side of the CFRP specimen, which was simultaneously loaded with compressive force. Three different approaches (film, non-woven, and coatings) were applied: paper with a thickness in the range of μm consisting of cellulose nanofibre (CNF)/clay nanocomposite, nonwoven mats with thickness in the range of cm and intumescent coatings with a thickness in the range of mm. The uncoated specimen failed after just 17 s. Protection by these systems provides fire stability, as they multiply the time to failure by as much as up to 43 times. The reduced heating rates of the protected specimens demonstrate the reduced heat penetration, indicating the coatings' excellent heat shielding properties. Bench-scale fire stability testing is shown to be suitable tool to identify, compare and assess different approaches to fire protection

Enzymatic and spectroscopic properties of a thermostable [NiFe]‑hydrogenase performing H2-driven NAD+-reduction in the presence of O2

Biocatalysts that mediate the H2-dependent reduction of NAD+ to NADH are attractive from both a fundamental and applied perspective. Here we present the first biochemical and spectroscopic characterization of an NAD+-reducing [NiFe]‑hydrogenase that sustains catalytic activity at high temperatures and in the presence of O2, which usually acts as an inhibitor. We isolated and sequenced the four structural genes, hoxFUYH, encoding the soluble NAD+-reducing [NiFe]‑hydrogenase (SH) from the thermophilic betaproteobacterium, Hydrogenophilus thermoluteolus TH-1T (Ht). The HtSH was recombinantly overproduced in a hydrogenase-free mutant of the well-studied, H2-oxidizing betaproteobacterium Ralstonia eutropha H16 (Re). The enzyme was purified and characterized with various biochemical and spectroscopic techniques. Highest H2-mediated NAD+ reduction activity was observed at 80 °C and pH 6.5, and catalytic activity was found to be sustained at low O2 concentrations. Infrared spectroscopic analyses revealed a spectral pattern for as-isolated HtSH that is remarkably different from those of the closely related ReSH and other [NiFe]‑hydrogenases. This indicates an unusual configuration of the oxidized catalytic center in HtSH. Complementary electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic analyses revealed spectral signatures similar to related NAD+-reducing [NiFe]‑hydrogenases. This study lays the groundwork for structural and functional analyses of the HtSH as well as application of this enzyme for H2-driven cofactor recycling under oxic conditions at elevated temperatures

Powering Artificial Enzymatic Cascades with Electrical Energy

We have developed a scalable platform that employs electrolysis for an in vitro synthetic enzymatic cascade in a continuous flow reactor. Both H2 and O2 were produced by electrolysis and transferred through a gas‐permeable membrane into the flow system. The membrane enabled the separation of the electrolyte from the biocatalysts in the flow system, where H2 and O2 served as electron mediators for the biocatalysts. We demonstrate the production of methylated N‐heterocycles from diamines with up to 99 % product formation as well as excellent regioselective labeling with stable isotopes. Our platform can be applied for a broad panel of oxidoreductases to exploit electrical energy for the synthesis of fine chemicals.DFG, 284111627, H2-basierende Kaskaden für die Biosynthese von N-HeterocyclenTU Berlin, Open-Access-Mittel – 2020DFG, 390540038, EXC 2008: Unifying Systems in Catalysis "UniSysCat"DFG, 390677874, EXC 2033: RESOLV (Ruhr Explores Solvation

Re-structuring of marine communities exposed to environmental change

Species richness is the most commonly used but controversial biodiversity metric in studies on aspects of community stability such as structural composition or productivity. The apparent ambiguity of theoretical and experimental findings may in part be due to experimental shortcomings and/or heterogeneity of scales and methods in earlier studies. This has led to an urgent call for improved and more realistic experiments. In a series of experiments replicated at a global scale we translocated several hundred marine hard bottom communities to new environments simulating a rapid but moderate environmental change. Subsequently, we measured their rate of compositional change (re-structuring) which in the great majority of cases represented a compositional convergence towards local communities. Re-structuring is driven by mortality of community components (original species) and establishment of new species in the changed environmental context. The rate of this re-structuring was then related to various system properties. We show that availability of free substratum relates negatively while taxon richness relates positively to structural persistence (i.e., no or slow re-structuring). Thus, when faced with environmental change, taxon-rich communities retain their original composition longer than taxon-poor communities. The effect of taxon richness, however, interacts with another aspect of diversity, functional richness. Indeed, taxon richness relates positively to persistence in functionally depauperate communities, but not in functionally diverse communities. The interaction between taxonomic and functional diversity with regard to the behaviour of communities exposed to environmental stress may help understand some of the seemingly contrasting findings of past research