Research Results
Sep 4, 2020
- Press Release
- Research Paper
A press release announcing the research findings of Prof. Yutaka Amao and Graduate student has been issued
We have successfully enhanced the catalytic activity of carbon dioxide-fixing enzymes simply by adding metal ions.
Key points of this study
- Enhancing the activity of the malate enzymes*1, which promote the reaction of binding carbon dioxide to organic molecules as carboxyl groups*2, is crucial for efficient carbon dioxide fixation.
- We have successfully enhanced the catalytic activity of malate enzymes simply by adding aluminum ions.
- This is a significant guideline for regulating the activity of enzymes involved in carbon dioxide fixation, paving the way for a simple artificial photosynthesis system that integrates a dye and an enzyme capable of fixing and storing carbon dioxide in organic molecules.
Summary
Professor Yutaka Amao (Research Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Osaka City University) and Graduate student Takeyuki Katagiri (2nd year doctoral student in the Department of Materials and Molecular Science, Graduate School of Science, Research Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science) have successfully enhanced the catalytic activity of malic enzymes, which catalyze the carboxylation of pyruvate*3 to produce malate*4, simply by adding aluminum ions.
In artificial photosynthesis technology, which can produce malic acid by carboxylating pyruvate, it is crucial to activate malic enzymes, which catalyze the conversion of 3-carbon pyruvate to 4-carbon malate using carbon dioxide. In this study, we successfully enhanced the catalytic activity of malic enzymes by simply adding common metal ions.
The results of this research were published online in the New Journal of Chemistry, a journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
*1 malate enzymes…Oxidative decarboxylase, that catalyze the interconversion of malic acid and pyruvate.
*2 carboxyl groups…Functional groups (-COOH) that make up carboxylic acids, which are important organic compounds
*3 pyruvate…A type of carboxylic acid. Glycolysis, an important intermediate substance in amino acid and fatty acid metabolism
*4 malate…A type of carboxylic acid. Organic compounds with a wide range of applications in food and industry
Financial Information
The results of this research were supported by the Academic Research Grant Fund's International Collaborative Research Acceleration Fund (International Collaborative Research Enhancement (B)), Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research on New Academic Areas, and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Fellowships for Young Scientists.
Publication Information
| Publications: | New Journal of Chemistry (Royal Society of Chemistry) |
|---|---|
| Title of Paper: | Trivalent metal ion promotes malic enzyme-catalyzed building carbon-carbon bonds from CO2 and pyruvateTrivalent metal ion promotes malic enzyme-catalyzed building carbon-carbon bonds from CO2 and pyruvate |
| Author: | KATAGIRI, Takayuki, AMAO, Yutaka |
| URL: | https://doi.org/10.1039/D0NJ03449E |