Abstract 2655 Functional and Structural Characterization of F420H2 and Ferredoxin-Dependent Heterodisulfide Reductase Subunit A: A New Class of Electron-Bifurcating Enzymes

Electron bifurcation is a vital energy conservation mechanism that allows organisms to drive thermodynamically unfavorable reactions without relying solely on ATP hydrolysis or ion gradients. This process involves splitting a pair of electrons from a single donor, directing one to a high-potential acceptor and the other to a low-potential acceptor. While flavin-based electron bifurcation systems using NAD(H), NADP(H), or H2 as low-potential electron sources are well-characterized, the role of F420H2 as an electron donor in bifurcation remains poorly understood.