Comment on “Extreme electric fields power catalysis in the active site of ketosteroid isomerase”

Abstract

Fried et al . (Reports, 19 December 2014, p. 1510) demonstrate electric field–dependent acceleration of biological catalysis using ketosteroid isomerase as a prototypic example. These findings were not extended to aqueous solution because water by itself has field fluctuations that are too large and fast to provide a catalytic effect. Given physiological context, when water electrostatic interactions are considered, electric fields play a less important role in the catalysis.