[NiFe]-Hydrogenase maturation endopeptidase: structure and function

Abstract

Hydrogenase maturation endopeptidases catalyse the terminal step in the maturation of the large subunit of [NiFe]-hydrogenases. They remove a C-terminal extension from the precursor of the subunit, triggering a conformational switch that results in the bridging of the Fe and Ni atoms of the metal centre via the thiolate of a cysteine residue and in closure of the centre. This review summarizes what is known about the structure of the protein, its substrate specificity and its possible reaction mechanism.