Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 28, 2026

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Published on: April 10, 2018
A de novo designed metalloenzyme for the hydration of CO2
Virginia M Cangelosi1, Aniruddha Deb, James E Penner-Hahn
1Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI, 48109 (USA).
Abstract:
Protein design will ultimately allow for the creation of artificial enzymes with novel functions and unprecedented stability. To test our current mastery of nature's approach to catalysis, a Zn(II) metalloenzyme was prepared using de novo design. α3DH3 folds into a stable single-stranded three-helix bundle and binds Zn(II) with high affinity using His3 O coordination. The resulting metalloenzyme catalyzes the hydration of CO2 better than any small molecule model of carbonic anhydrase and with an efficiency within 1400-fold of the fastest carbonic anhydrase isoform, CAII, and 11-fold of CAIII.
Related Concept Videos
Acid-Catalyzed Hydration of Alkenes
Regioselectivity and Stereochemistry of Acid-Catalyzed Hydration
Alkynes to Aldehydes and Ketones: Acid-Catalyzed Hydration
Analogous to alkenes, alkynes also undergo acid-catalyzed hydration. While the addition of water to an alkene gives an alcohol, hydration of alkynes produces different products such as aldehydes and ketones.
Aldehydes and Ketones with Water: Hydrate Formation
The formation of hydrates is a reversible reaction. Hydrate formation is influenced by steric and electronic factors accompanying the alkyl substituents on the carbonyl group: The rate of hydrate formation increases with a decrease in the number of alkyl groups attached to the carbonyl carbon. Hence,...
Cofactors and Coenzymes
Cofactors and Coenzymes
Cofactors can be metallic ions or organic molecules called coenzymes. These types of helper...

