초록
<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>Hydrogen production by water splitting energized by biomass sugars is one of the most promising technologies for distributed green H<SUB>2</SUB> production. Direct H<SUB>2</SUB> generation from NADPH, catalysed by an NADPH‐dependent, soluble [NiFe]‐hydrogenase (SH1) is thermodynamically unfavourable, resulting in slow volumetric productivity. We designed the biomimetic electron transport chain from NADPH to H<SUB>2</SUB> by the introduction of an oxygen‐insensitive electron mediator benzyl viologen (BV) and an enzyme (NADPH rubredoxin oxidoreductase, NROR), catalysing electron transport between NADPH and BV. The H<SUB>2</SUB> generation rates using this biomimetic chain increased by approximately five‐fold compared to those catalysed only by SH1. The peak volumetric H<SUB>2</SUB> productivity via the in vitro enzymatic pathway comprised of hyperthermophilic glucose 6‐phosphate dehydrogenase, 6‐phosphogluconolactonase, and 6‐phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, NROR, and SH1 was 310 mmol H<SUB>2</SUB>/L h<SUP>−1</SUP>, the highest rate yet reported. The concept of biomimetic electron transport chains could be applied to both in vitro and in vivo H<SUB>2</SUB> production biosystems and artificial photosynthesis.</P>