Hydrogen Gas Acts as On-Off Switch for Cell Metabolism in New Study
- Authors
- Sotirios Zerveas, Evaggelos Kyodonakis, Melpomeni-Sofia Mente, Vangelis Daskalakis, Kiriakos Kotzabasis
- Journal
- Journal of Biotechnology
- Year
- 2021
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2021.06.005
- Study Type
- clinical
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Greece
- Health Condition
- Metabolic Disorders
- Body System
- Cellular
TL;DR
Scientists discovered that putting living cells in pure hydrogen gas basically puts them to sleep—they stop growing and using energy—but they wake right back up when you add oxygen, which could be a game-changer for keeping food fresh without electricity for super long periods.
Key Finding
Exposure to 100% hydrogen gas reversibly halts cellular metabolism and growth in multiple organisms, with rapid restoration of metabolic function when oxygen is reintroduced.
Summary
Researchers exposed various organisms—from algae to yeast—to pure hydrogen gas and found that their metabolism (the chemical processes that keep cells alive) completely stopped, but could be quickly restarted by adding oxygen back. Computer simulations suggested this happens because hydrogen makes proteins more stable and less likely to move around. The study proposes this could eventually be used to preserve foods or biological products for long periods without using energy.
Practical Takeaway
This is early-stage research in microorganisms and yeast, not humans, and focuses on metabolic arrest rather than health benefits. While the findings are scientifically interesting, there is no evidence presented about whether hydrogen water or hydrogen gas exposure would have similar effects in humans or provide any health advantage. Much more research would be needed before any therapeutic applications could be considered.
Abstract
Metabolism is the sum of all chemical reactions that sustain life. There is an ongoing effort to control metabolic rate, which correlates with the maximum lifespan potential and constitutes one of the oldest scientific questions. Herein, we report on the complete reversible arrest of cellular metabolism and cell growth in a series of organisms, from microalgae to yeast upon exposure to a 100 % hydrogen atmosphere. We also report a tolerance of the microalgae under these conditions against extreme stress conditions, like high salt concentrations. The addition of oxygen or air almost completely restores the metabolic rate and cell growth. Molecular dynamics simulations are employed to decipher this phenomenon at atomic scale. Various proteins, including photosynthetic and respiratory complexes (LHCII, cytochrome c5) are probed in the interaction with hydrogen. Exposure to hydrogen, as opposed to oxygen, decreases the fluctuations of protein residues indicating thermostability. According to the above mechanism, an absolute hydrogen atmosphere can preserve biological products (e.g. fruits) for a long time without consuming any energy. By combining biological, chemical and computational methods, in this research we provide the basis for future innovative studies and advances in the field of biotechnology.