Novel, Oxygen-Insensitive Group 5 [NiFe]-Hydrogenase in Ralstonia eutropha

Abstract

ABSTRACTRecently, a novel group of [NiFe]-hydrogenases has been defined that appear to have a great impact in the global hydrogen cycle. This so-called group 5 [NiFe]-hydrogenase is widespread in soil-living actinobacteria and can oxidize molecular hydrogen at atmospheric levels, which suggests a high affinity of the enzyme toward H2. Here, we provide a biochemical characterization of a group 5 hydrogenase from the betaproteobacteriumRalstonia eutrophaH16. The hydrogenase was designated an actinobacterial hydrogenase (AH) and is catalytically active, as shown by thein vivoH2uptake and by activity staining in native gels. However, the enzyme does not sustain autotrophic growth on H2. The AH was purified to homogeneity by affinity chromatography and consists of two subunits with molecular masses of 65 and 37 kDa. Among the electron acceptors tested, nitroblue tetrazolium chloride was reduced by the AH at highest rates. At 30°C and pH 8, the specific activity of the enzyme was 0.3 μmol of H2per min and mg of protein. However, an unexpectedly high Michaelis constant (Km) for H2of 3.6 ± 0.5 μM was determined, which is in contrast to the previously proposed lowKmof group 5 hydrogenases and makes atmospheric H2uptake byR. eutrophamost unlikely. Amperometric activity measurements revealed that the AH maintains full H2oxidation activity even at atmospheric oxygen concentrations, showing that the enzyme is insensitive toward O2.