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![Protein Film Infrared Electrochemistry Demonstrated for Study of H2 Oxidation by a [NiFe] Hydrogenase](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F55858.jpg&w=3840&q=50)
Protein Film Infrared Electrochemistry Demonstrated for Study of H2 Oxidation by a [NiFe] Hydrogenase
Published on: December 4, 2017
A new activity for an old enzyme: Escherichia coli bacterial alkaline phosphatase is a phosphite-dependent
Kechao Yang1, William W Metcalf
1Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B103 Chemical and Life Sciences Laboratory, 601 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
Abstract:
Genetic analysis indicates that Escherichia coli possesses two independent pathways for oxidation of phosphite (Pt) to phosphate. One pathway depends on the 14-gene phn operon, which encodes the enzyme C-P lyase. The other pathway depends on the phoA locus, which encodes bacterial alkaline phosphatase (BAP). Transposon mutagenesis studies strongly suggest that BAP is the only enzyme involved in the phoA-dependent pathway. This conclusion is supported by purification and biochemical characterization of the Pt-oxidizing enzyme, which was proven to be BAP by N terminus protein sequencing. Highly purified BAP catalyzed Pt oxidation with specific activities of 62-242 milliunits/mg and phosphate ester hydrolysis with specific activities of 41-61 units/mg. Surprisingly, BAP catalyzes the oxidation of Pt to phosphate and molecular H2. Thus, BAP is a unique Pt-dependent, H2-evolving hydrogenase. This reaction is unprecedented in both P and H biochemistry, and it is likely to involve direct transfer of hydride from the substrate to water-derived protons.
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