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Discovery of an artificial coenzyme that boosts the activity of formate dehydrogenase for catalyzing the conversion of carbon dioxide into formic acid.

This research was introduced in the following media.

• June 9, 2015 The Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun
• June 12, 2015 Nikkei Business Daily, The Sankei WEST (Web media)

 A research group led by Professor Yutaka Amao (Research Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Osaka City University) has succeeded in increasing the activity of an artificial coenzyme using a simple chemical structure called methyl viologen by more than 20 times compared to formic acid produced using natural coenzymes.

 One of the essential technologies for creating an artificial photosynthesis system that converts carbon dioxide into organic molecules using solar energy is the development of catalysts effective for converting carbon dioxide into organic molecules. In this paper, we succeeded in improving the activity of formate dehydrogenase, a catalyst that promotes the conversion of carbon dioxide to formic acid (fuel, chemical product, and energy storage medium), using an artificial coenzyme with a simple chemical structure.
 To produce formic acid from carbon dioxide using formate dehydrogenase, a coenzyme molecule is required. In this study, we used an artificial coenzyme with a simple chemical structure called methyl viologen and succeeded in producing formic acid from carbon dioxide using formate dehydrogenase, achieving an activity more than 20 times higher than that obtained using a natural coenzyme. This achievement represents a significant advancement in the design and development of catalysts for converting carbon dioxide into organic molecules in future artificial photosynthesis systems.

This research was published online in Chemistry Letters on June 4, 2017 (JST).

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