Formate decarboxylation: Initial step for hydrogen production by Enterobacter aerogenes

The absence of Fe, Se, and Mo in a minimal medium prevented the production of hydrogen from the anaerobic culture of Escherichia coli MC4100. Fe, Se, and Mo are known to be cofactors of formate dehydrogenase (FDH_II) of both E. coli and Enterobacter aerogenes. Hence when these trace elements are absent in the minimal medium, hydrogen production through formate dehydrogenation would be inhibited not only in E. coli but also in E. aerogenes. Hydrogen production by E. aerogenes 413 was delayed when lacking these trace elements. Therefore, it is believed that hydrogen production of E. aerogenes is initiated not by the reoxidation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) but by formate decarboxylation.