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Assembly and Function of Nitrogenase

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Enzymes for Solving Humankind's Problems

Abstract

Nitrogenase is the complex metalloenzyme responsible for the crucial process of biological nitrogen fixation, in which atmospheric dinitrogen (N2) is converted into bioavailable ammonia (NH3). This involves the breaking of the inert N≡N triple bond, a remarkable feat that is made possible by the unique metal clusters—the [Fe8S7] P-cluster and the [MoFe7S9C-R-homocitrate] M-cluster. Recent studies on molybdenum-dependent nitrogenase have greatly extended our understanding of how both of these fascinating metal clusters are assembled from common [Fe4S4] building blocks, as well as on the series of intriguing interplay between the proteins that are involved. In parallel, independent biochemical, spectroscopic, and structural investigations combine to provide unprecedented insights into the enigmatic mechanism of N2 reduction. In this chapter, evidence that led up to these findings will be outlined and discussed in their respective contexts, followed by a brief perspective on the outlook of the nitrogenase field.

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Acknowledgements

We would also like to thank the funding agencies that support the work in our groups, including the NIH-NIGMS grant GM67626 (to M.W.R. and Y.H.), which funds research related to the assembly of nitrogenase; the Department of Energy grants DOE (BES) DE-SC0016510 (to Y.H. and M.W.R.) and DE-SC0014470 (to M.W.R. and Y.H.), which fund work related to the mechanistic investigation of ammonia and hydrocarbon formation, respectively, by nitrogenase and related variants; and the NSF grants CHE-1904131 (to M.W.R. and Y.H.) and CHE-1651398 (to Y.H.), which fund work related to CO and CO2 activation by nitrogenase and its Fe protein component, respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA

    Chi-Chung Lee, Martin Tillmann Stiebritz, Yilin Hu & Markus Walter Ribbe

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  1. Chi-Chung Lee
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  2. Martin Tillmann Stiebritz
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  3. Yilin Hu
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  4. Markus Walter Ribbe
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Correspondence to Chi-Chung Lee , Yilin Hu or Markus Walter Ribbe .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. LAQV, REQUIMTE, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Caparica, Portugal

    José J. G. Moura

  2. LAQV, REQUIMTE, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Caparica, Portugal

    Isabel Moura

  3. LAQV, REQUIMTE, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Caparica, Portugal

    Luisa B. Maia

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Lee, CC., Stiebritz, M.T., Hu, Y., Ribbe, M.W. (2021). Assembly and Function of Nitrogenase. In: Moura, J.J.G., Moura, I., Maia, L.B. (eds) Enzymes for Solving Humankind's Problems. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58315-6_6

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