Researchers Discover Proton-Shuttling Mechanism in Hydrogenases

Ruhr University Bochum researchers have identified how [FeFe]-hydrogenases achieve high-efficiency hydrogen production, capturing nearly 10,000 protons per second. The study, published October 17, 2026, in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, reveals that two surface histidines act as a molecular pendulum to transport protons to the enzyme's interior.

Scientists discovered that zinc ions can inhibit this process by binding to these specific histidines, effectively blocking the transport pathway. By utilizing protein crystallography and molecular simulations, the team demonstrated that one histidine receives protons from the surface, while the other swings inward to deliver them to the catalytic site.

Editor's note: Correctly summarizes the mechanism and the scientific findings regarding the [FeFe]-hydrogenases.