Аннотация:The kinetics of hydrogen oxidation catalyzed by hydrogenase from the purple sulfur bacterium Thiocapsa roseopersicina was studied. The sequence of steps was proposed. H2 activation was found to proceed via the formation of an enzyme-hydride complex (EH-). The hydrogen molecule was shown to occupy the free site of the nickel center. The site of H+ binding in hydrogen evolution (pK = 7.6 .+-. 0.2) was separated from both nickel and iron-sulfur centers. The electron acceptor and the active site of hydrogenase were shown to interact in a reversible bimolecular regime. The mechanism of H2 oxidation involved a slow intramolecular step. The whole kinetic scheme of hydrogen oxidation is presented. The molecular mechanism of catalysis of T. roseopersicina hydrogenase is proposed.