U.S.-Hungary Biophysical Studies of the Enzyme Thiocapsa Roseopersicina Hydrogenases

这项美国-匈牙利研究项目包括马萨诸塞大学阿默斯特分校的迈克尔·马洛尼和塞格德匈牙利生物研究中心生物物理研究所的萨巴·巴金卡。他们打算研究催化二氢可逆双电子氧化还原化学的氢化酶反应机制中的生物过程。该项目的特点是与酶Thiocapsa roseopersicina合作。理论提出了许多可能的结构，国际团队将通过光谱和其他物理探针进行测试。为此，研究人员计划使用时间分辨FTIR研究来确定参与催化的物种。他们将描述相互转化及其速率，希望检测动力学中间体并遵循不断发展的热力学微观状态。美国和匈牙利的合作伙伴专门寻找质子在决定活性位点上的电荷中所起的作用，催化过程中涉及的氧化还原状态，或者质子化半胱氨酸是否存在等问题的答案。如果成功，这些发现可能为燃料电池将化学能转化为电能以及通过光化学制氢以化学形式储存太阳能提供线索。这个国际生物物理研究项目通过使美国和中欧的专家能够在共同感兴趣和能力强的领域结合互补的人才和共享研究资源，实现了推进科学知识的计划目标。

This U.S.-Hungarian research project involves Michael Maroney of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and Csaba Bagyinka of the Institute of Biophysics at the Hungarian Biological Research Center, Szeged. They intend to examine the biological processes in hydrogenase reaction mechanisms, which catalyze the reversible two-electron redox chemistry of dihydrogen. The project features work with the enzyme Thiocapsa roseopersicina.Theory suggests a number of possibilities for structures of T. roseopersicina catalytic intermediates which the international team will test by spectroscopic and other physical probes. To do so the researchers plan to use time-resolved FTIR studies for determining the species involved in catalysis. They will characterize interconversions and their rates, hoping to detect kinetic intermediates and follow evolving thermodynamic microstates. The US-Hungarian partners specifically seek answers to questions about what roles protons play in determining the charge on active sites, what redox states are involved in catalysis, or whether protonated cysteines are present. If successful, findings may provide clues applicable to conversion of chemical energy to electricity for fuel cells and to storage of solar energy in chemical form via photochemical hydrogen production. This international project in biophysics research fulfills the program objective of advancing scientific knowledge by enabling experts in the Untied States and Central Europe to combine complementary talents and share research resources in areas of strong mutual interest and competence.