In silico discovery of selenocysteine-containing variants of Group 4 [NiFe] hydrogenases
Masamitsu Takano, Masao Inoue, Riku Aono, Anna Ochi, Hisaaki Mihara · 2026
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Description
Takano leads a team computationally hunting selenium-bearing variants of hydrogen-making enzymes in a 2026 paper. These nickel-iron hydrogenases swap hydrogen and protons at a metal center. A rare amino acid swap, selenocysteine for cysteine, boosts oxygen tolerance in some families.
Such variants were known only in two enzyme groups, never in Group 4. A genome survey with stop-codon read-through analysis found dozens of distinct Group 4 sequences carrying the swap. The substitutions sat in the opposite motif from earlier families, in several motif shapes. Family trees suggest at least three separate origins. The enzymes appear to sit in energy-converting complexes, as relatives do. The dataset maps new territory for enzyme evolution.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Masamitsu Takano, Masao Inoue, Riku Aono, Anna Ochi, Hisaaki Mihara |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 39 KB |
| VERSION | 1.0 |
| LICENSE | CC BY 4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |