title: Inhibition of [FeFe]-hydrogenases by formaldehyde and wider mechanistic implications for biohydrogen activation.
abstract: Formaldehyde-a rapid and reversible inhibitor of hydrogen evolution by [FeFe]-hydrogenases-binds with a strong potential dependence that is almost complementary to that of CO. Whereas exogenous CO binds tightly to the oxidized state known as H(ox) but very weakly to a state two electrons more reduced, formaldehyde interacts most strongly with the latter. Formaldehyde thus intercepts increasingly reduced states of the catalytic cycle, and density functional theory calculations support the proposal that it reacts with the H-cluster directly, most likely targeting an otherwise elusive and highly reactive Fe-hydrido (Fe-H) intermediate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QR, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Carina E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Krämer
authors.forename: Annemarie F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Wait
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parkin
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Happe
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: McGrady
authors.forename: Fraser A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Armstrong
mesh_terms: D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000378:metabolism; D046969:Clostridium acetobutylicum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D006864:Hydrogenase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry; D008667:Metalloproteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008667:Metalloproteins; D005557:Formaldehyde; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D006859:Hydrogen; D007501:Iron; D006864:Hydrogenase