Hydrogen evolution from dithionite and H2 photoproduction by hydrogenase incorporated into various hydrophobic...

The effects of surfactants, lipids and amphiphilic viologen mediators on H2 production from dithionite as well as on Ru(bpy) sensitized H2 photoproduction by hydrogenase from Thiocapsa roseopersicina was studied. Three systems which differed as to the nature of the hydrophobic matrix around the hydrogenase were tested. An enhanced hydrogenase activity was observed in the presence of surfactants, in the 1-6 mM concentration range. Hydrogenase showed a selectivity for the amphiphilic viologens, 2C7-diCl was the most efficient electron mediator in both reactions. H2 photoproduction seemed not to be feasible in the detergent-hydrogenase system because of intensive foaming. Hydrogenase incorporated into liposomes catalyzed H2 photoevolution efficiently but the rate was decreasing in time, though reversibly. Using intact bacterial cells instead of purified hydrogenase yielded stable H2 photoevolution for at least 12 hours. This system offers several advantages for potential practical applications.