Ene reductases (EC 1.3.1.16) catalyses the reduction of electron-deficient alkenes to alkanes in the presence of cofactors such as NADH or NADPH in water under ambient conditions (see Reaction Scheme and Examples). In some cases, these enzymes are also able to catalyze the reduction of electron-deficient alkynes (see References).

Reaction Scheme and Examples:

Selected References:

1. Stuermer, R.; Hauer, B.; Hall, M.; Faber, K. “Asymmetric bioreduction of activated C:C bonds using enoate reductases from the old yellow enzyme family”, Current Opinion in Chemical Biology, 2007, 11,  203-213. 

2. Youn, B.; Kim, S.-J.; Moinuddin, S. G. A.; Lee, C.; Bedgar, D. L.; Harper, A. R.; Davin, L. B.; Lewis, N. G.; Kang, C. “Mechanistic and Structural Studies of Apoform, Binary, and Ternary Complexes of the Arabidopsis Alkenal  Double   Bond   Reductase  At5g16970”, Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2006,  281,  40076-40088.

3. Chaparro-Riggers, J. F.; Rogers, T. A.; Vazquez-Figueroa, E.; Polizzi, K. M.; Bommarius, A. S.   “Comparison of three enoate reductases and their potential use for biotransformations”, Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis, 2007, 349, 1521-1531.