Cyanobacterial hydrogenases: diversity, regulation and applications

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2007

Authors

Paula Tamagnini (Author) FCUP; Elsa Leitao (Author) Other; Paulo Oliveira (Author) Other; Daniela Ferreira (Author) Other; Filipe Pinto (Author) Other; David James Harris (Author) FCUP; Thorsten Heidorn (Author) Other; Peter Lindblad (Author) Other

Journal

Title: FEMS Microbiology Reviews

Vol. 31

Pages: 692-720

ISSN: 0168-6445

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 131 Citations

Scopus - 304 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Biological sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-004-6GE

DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2007.00085.x

Abstract (EN): Cyanobacteria may possess two distinct nickel-iron (NiFe)-hydrogenases: an uptake enzyme found in N-2-fixing strains, and a bidirectional one present in both non-N-2-fixing and N-2-fixing strains. The uptake hydrogenase (encoded by hupSL) catalyzes the consumption of the H-2 produced during N-2 fixation, while the bidirectional enzyme (hoxEFUYH) probably plays a role in fermentation and/or acts as an electron valve during photosynthesis. hupSL constitute a transcriptional unit, and are essentially transcribed under N-2-fixing conditions. The bidirectional hydrogenase consists of a hydrogenase and a diaphorase part, and the corresponding five hox genes are not always clustered or cotranscribed. The biosynthesis/maturation of NiFe-hydrogenases is highly complex, requiring several core proteins. In cyanobacteria, the genes that are thought to affect hydrogenases pleiotropically (hyp), as well as the genes presumably encoding the hydrogenase-specific endopeptidases (hupW and hoxW) have been identified and characterized. Furthermore, NtcA and LexA have been implicated in the transcriptional regulation of the uptake and the bidirectional enzyme respectively. Recently, the phylogenetic origin of cyanobacterial and algal hydrogenases was analyzed, and it was proposed that the current distribution in cyanobacteria reflects a differential loss of genes according to their ecological needs or constraints. In addition, the possibilities and challenges of cyanobacterial-based H-2 production are addressed.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 29