ATP synthesis coupled to the electroenzymatic activity of a hydrogenase immobilized at an electrode/biomimetic membrane interface

Abstract

Cells generate energy by coupling a proton gradient across a phospholipid bilayer membrane with the activity of a cross-membrane ATP synthase enzyme. In an effort to mimic this process in an artificial environment, we show that ATP can be efficiently produced starting from molecular hydrogen as a fuel. The proton concentration in an electrode/phospholipid bilayer interface can be controlled and monitorised electrochemically by immobilizing the membrane-bound [NiFeSe]-hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough.1 The electro-enzymatic oxidation of H2 generated a proton gradient across the supported biomimetic membrane that can be coupled to the in vitro synthesis of ATP by reconstituting ATP-synthase from E. coli on the biomimetic system.2