Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 26, 2026
10:00
Hydrogen Production and Utilization in a Membrane Reactor
Published on: March 10, 2023
Barrier compression enhances an enzymatic hydrogen-transfer reaction
Sam Hay1, Christopher R Pudney, Tom A McGrory
1Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, UK.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|January 16, 2009
Summary
Hydrostatic pressure shortens bonds in morphinone reductase and NADH complexes. This pressure restricts enzyme active site movement, increasing the catalysis rate.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Enzyme kinetics
- High-pressure studies
Background:
- Morphinone reductase catalyzes reduction reactions using flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and NADH.
- Enzyme activity is sensitive to environmental conditions, including pressure.
- Understanding pressure effects can reveal mechanistic details.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of hydrostatic pressure on the morphinone reductase-NADH complex.
- To elucidate the structural and dynamic changes induced by pressure.
- To determine how pressure affects the catalytic rate.
Main Methods:
- Molecular dynamics simulations were employed.
- The study focused on the binary complex of morphinone reductase and NADH.
- Analysis of charge-transfer bond length and conformational space was performed.
Main Results:
- Hydrostatic pressure was found to shorten the charge-transfer bond.
- Pressure restricts the conformational flexibility of FMN and NADH within the active site.
- The simulations indicated a reduction in the average reaction barrier width.
Conclusions:
- Pressure-induced conformational changes are key to modulating enzyme activity.
- Restricted active site dynamics enhance the catalytic efficiency of morphinone reductase.
- This study provides insights into enzyme mechanisms under high-pressure conditions.
![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)
Related Concept Videos
02:13Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Alkenes undergo reduction by the addition of molecular hydrogen to give alkanes. Because the process generally occurs in the presence of a transition-metal catalyst, the reaction is called catalytic hydrogenation.
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the surface of...
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the surface of...
02:50Catalysis
The presence of a catalyst affects the rate of a chemical reaction. A catalyst is a substance that can increase the reaction rate without being consumed during the process. A basic comprehension of a catalysts’ role during chemical reactions can be understood from the concept of reaction mechanisms and energy diagrams.
01:27Catalysis
Catalysis influences the rate of chemical reactions by providing an alternative reaction pathway with lower activation energy. A catalyst speeds up a reaction, but it is not consumed during the process. The fundamental principle of catalysis is the ability of a catalyst to alter the reaction mechanism, often introducing a more efficient pathway than the uncatalyzed process.In a catalyzed reaction, the catalyst participates directly in the reaction mechanism. It interacts with reactants to form...
02:17Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
Catalytic hydrogenation of alkenes is a transition-metal catalyzed reduction of the double bond using molecular hydrogen to give alkanes. The mode of hydrogen addition follows syn stereochemistry.
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
01:13Enzymes and Activation Energy
The activation energy (or free energy of activation), abbreviated as Ea, is the small amount of energy input necessary for all chemical reactions to occur. During chemical reactions, certain chemical bonds break, and new ones form. For example, when a glucose molecule breaks down, bonds between the molecule's carbon atoms break. Since these are energy-storing bonds, they release energy when broken. However, the molecule must be somewhat contorted to get into a state that allows the bonds to...
01:13Enzymes and Activation Energy
The activation energy (or free energy of activation), abbreviated as Ea, is the small amount of energy input necessary for all chemical reactions to occur. During chemical reactions, certain chemical bonds break, and new ones form. For example, when a glucose molecule breaks down, bonds between the molecule's carbon atoms break. Since these are energy-storing bonds, they release energy when broken. However, the molecule must be somewhat contorted to get into a state that allows the bonds to...