Orientation and Function of a Membrane-Bound Enzyme Monitored by Electrochemical Surface-Enhanced Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy

Electrochemical SEIRA is the method of choice for characterizing a lipid-bilayer-anchored, membrane-bound hydrogenase immobilized on a gold electrode. This setup allows the study of the enzyme under conditions mimicking its natural environment. A single experiment provides all of the crucial spectroscopic information relating to the protein orientation, active site of the protein, and the lipid bilayer and also direct electrochemical determination of the catalytic H 2 oxidation by the enzyme.