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The Metal-Driven Biogeochemistry of Gaseous Compounds in the Environment pp 147–176Cite as

Cleaving the N,N Triple Bond: The Transformation of Dinitrogen to Ammonia by Nitrogenases

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Part of the book series: Metal Ions in Life Sciences ((MILS,volume 14))

Abstract

Biological nitrogen fixation is a natural process that converts atmospheric nitrogen (N2) to bioavailable ammonia (NH3). This reaction not only plays a key role in supplying bio-accessible nitrogen to all life forms on Earth, but also embodies the powerful chemistry of cleaving the inert N,N triple bond under ambient conditions. The group of enzymes that carry out this reaction are called nitrogenases and typically consist of two redox active protein components, each containing metal cluster(s) that are crucial for catalysis. In the past decade, a number of crystal structures, including several at high resolutions, have been solved. However, the catalytic mechanism of nitrogenase, namely, how the N,N triple bond is cleaved by this enzyme under ambient conditions, has remained elusive. Nevertheless, recent biochemical and spectroscopic studies have led to a better understanding of the potential intermediates of N2 reduction by the molybdenum (Mo)-nitrogenase. In addition, it has been demonstrated that carbon monoxide (CO), which was thought to be an inhibitor of N2 reduction, could also be reduced by the vanadium (V)-nitrogenase to small alkanes and alkenes. This chapter will begin with an introduction to biological nitrogen fixation and Mo-nitrogenase, continue with a discussion of the catalytic mechanism of N2 reduction by Mo-nitrogenase, and conclude with a survey of the current knowledge of N2- and CO-reduction by V-nitrogenase and how V-nitrogenase compares to its Mo-counterpart in these catalytic activities.

Please cite as: Met. Ions Life Sci. 14 (2014) 147–176

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Acknowledgment

Work in our laboratory is supported by National Institute of Health Grant GM-67626 (MWR) and Herman Frasch Foundation Grant 617-HF07 (MWR).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, 2236 McGaugh Hall, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697-3900, USA

    Chi Chung Lee, Markus W. Ribbe & Yilin Hu

  2. Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697-2025, USA

    Markus W. Ribbe

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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Univ. Konstanz Fachbereich Biologie, Konstanz, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

    Peter M.H. Kroneck

  2. Facultad de Química Universidad Autónoma de México, Departamento de Química Inorganica y Nuclear, México, Distrito Federal, Mexico

    Martha E. Sosa Torres

Abbreviations

Abbreviations

ADP:

adenosine 5′-diphosphate

AMPPCP:

5′-adenylyl (β,γ-methylene) diphosphonate

ATP:

adenosine 5′-triphosphate

ENDOR:

electron nuclear double resonance

EPR:

electron paramagnetic resonance

ESEEM:

electron spin-echo envelope modulation

EXAFS:

extended X-ray fine structure

FeMoco:

iron molybdenum cofactor

FeVCo:

iron vanadium cofactor

GC-MS:

gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

HYSCORE:

hyperfine sublevel correlation

IDS:

indigodisulfonate

NHE:

normal hydrogen electrode

NMF:

N-methylformamide

PDB:

Protein Data Bank

P i :

inorganic phosphate

SOD:

superoxide dismutase

XAS:

X-ray absorption spectroscopy

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Lee, C.C., Ribbe, M.W., Hu, Y. (2014). Cleaving the N,N Triple Bond: The Transformation of Dinitrogen to Ammonia by Nitrogenases. In: Kroneck, P., Torres, M. (eds) The Metal-Driven Biogeochemistry of Gaseous Compounds in the Environment. Metal Ions in Life Sciences, vol 14. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9269-1_7

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