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Abstract De novo metalloprotein design involves the construction of proteins guided by specific repeat patterns of polar and apolar residues, which, upon self‐assembly, provide a suitable environment to bind metals and produce artificial metalloenzymes. While a wide range of functionalities have been realized in de novo designed metalloproteins, the functional repertoire of such constructs towards alternative energy‐relevant catalysis is currently limited. Here we show the application of de novo approach to design a functional H2evolving protein. The design involved the assembly of an amphiphilic peptide featuring cysteines at tandema/dsites of each helix. Intriguingly, upon NiIIaddition, the oligomers shift from a major trimeric assembly to a mix of dimers and trimers. The metalloprotein produced H2photocatalytically with a bell‐shape pH dependence, having a maximum activity at pH 5.5. Transient absorption spectroscopy is used to determine the timescales of electron transfer as a function of pH. Selective outer sphere mutations are made to probe how the local environment tunes activity. A preferential enhancement of activity is observed via steric modulation above the NiIIsite, towards the N‐termini, compared to below the NiIIsite towards the C‐termini.
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A De Novo‐Designed Artificial Metallopeptide Hydrogenase: Insights into Photochemical Processes and the Role of Protonated Cys
Abstract Hydrogenase enzymes produce H2gas, which can be a potential source of alternative energy. Inspired by the [NiFe] hydrogenases, we report the construction of a de novo‐designed artificial hydrogenase (ArH). The ArH is a dimeric coiled coil where two cysteine (Cys) residues are introduced at tandema/dpositions of a heptad to create a tetrathiolato Ni binding site. Spectroscopic studies show that Ni binding significantly stabilizes the peptide producing electronic transitions characteristic of Ni‐thiolate proteins. The ArH produces H2photocatalytically, demonstrating a bell‐shaped pH‐dependence on activity. Fluorescence lifetimes and transient absorption spectroscopic studies are undertaken to elucidate the nature of pH‐dependence, and to monitor the reaction kinetics of the photochemical processes. pH titrations are employed to determine the role of protonated Cys on reactivity. Through combining these results, a fine balance is found between solution acidity and the electron transfer steps. This balance is critical to maximize the production of NiI‐peptide and protonation of the NiII−H−intermediate (Ni−R) by a Cys (pKa≈6.4) to produce H2.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1757220
- PAR ID:
- 10224130
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- ChemSusChem
- Volume:
- 14
- Issue:
- 10
- ISSN:
- 1864-5631
- Format(s):
- Medium: X Size: p. 2237-2246
- Size(s):
- p. 2237-2246
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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