[FeFe]-Hydrogenase with Chalcogenide Substitutions at the H-Cluster Maintains Full H2 Evolution Activity

The [FeFe]-hydrogenase HYDA1 from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is particularly amenable to biochemical and biophysical characterization because the H-cluster in the active site is the only inorganic cofactor present. Herein, we present the complete chemical incorporation of the H-cluster into the HYDA1-apoprotein scaffold and, furthermore, the successful replacement of sulfur in the native [4Fe(H)] cluster with selenium. The crystal structure of the reconstituted pre-mature HYDA1-[4Fe4Se](H) protein was determined, and a catalytically intact artificial H-cluster variant was generated upon in vitro maturation. Full hydrogen evolution activity as well as native-like composition and behavior of the redesigned enzyme were verified through kinetic assays, FTIR spectroscopy, and X-ray structure analysis. These findings reveal that even a bioinorganic active site with exceptional complexity can exhibit a surprising level of compositional plasticity.