The Nickel-Pincer Complex in Lactate Racemase Is an Electron Relay and Sink that acts through Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer

Abstract

QM/MM calculations reveal that the nickel pincer complex in lactate racemase functions as a reversible “single-center electrode” that accepts and donates back an electron. In this way, it catalyzes the isomerization process d-lactate⇌l-lactate through successive proton-coupled electron-transfer steps.