Research Results
Aug 20, 2016
- Press Release
A press release on the research results of Prof. Yutaka Amao's group has been issued
Succeeded in developing a molecule that improves the enzyme-catalyzed conversion efficiency of carbon dioxide → formic acid production by about 560 times.
This research presentation was introduced in the following media.
- 8/23 The Chemical Daily
- 8/25 The Asahi Shimbun
- 9/5 The Nikkei
Professor Yutaka Amao of the Research Center for Artificial Photosynthesis and Dr. Shusaku Ikeyama, a doctoral student at the Graduate School of Science, have succeeded in developing an artificial coenzyme molecule that improves the activity of carbon dioxide into formic acid by about 560 times compared to using natural coenzymes.
Research Summary
One of the key technologies for creating an artificial photosynthetic system that uses solar energy to convert carbon dioxide into organic molecules is the development of effective catalysts.
In this research, we succeeded in developing an artificial coenzyme with a simple chemical structure that dramatically improves the activity of a catalyst = "formic acid deanhydrase" that promotes the reaction to convert carbon dioxide into formic acid (fuel, chemical product, energy storage medium).
In order to make formic acid from carbon dioxide using formic acid dehydrogenase, a molecule called a coenzyme is required. So far, we have succeeded in producing formic acid from carbon dioxide by formic acid dehydrogenase using artificial coenzymes called methylbiologen*1 and diquat*2, and have succeeded in improving the activity much more than when using natural coenzymes.
*1： http://www.osaka-cu.ac.jp/ja/news/2015/81sxi
*2： http://www.osaka-cu.ac.jp/ja/news/2016/160805
In this study, we synthesized a new molecule in which two amino groups (-NH2) were introduced into the chemical structure of biologen and used it as an artificial coenzyme, and succeeded in improving the activity by 560 times compared to the case of using natural coenzymes, which is the highest value to date.
This discovery is expected to greatly contribute to the design and development of catalysts for the realization of artificial photosynthesis systems that convert carbon dioxide into organic molecules in the future.
Publication Information
| Publications: | Chemistry Letters |
|---|---|
| Title of Paper: | Novel artificial co-enzyme based on the viologen derivative for CO2 reduction biocatalyst formate dehydrogenase |
| Author: | Shusaku Ikeyama and Yutaka Amao |
| URL: | http://www.journal.csj.jp/toc/cl/0/0 *1 : This paper will be published in advance as an Advance Publication, unproofed. |