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Evidence That the Pi Release Event Is the Rate-Limiting Step in the Nitrogenase Catalytic Cycle

Journal Article · · Biochemistry
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [1];  [3];  [4];  [4];  [3];  [2];  [2];  [1]
  1. Utah State Univ., Logan, UT (United States). Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry
  2. Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT (United States). Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry
  3. Marquette Univ., Milwaukee, WI (United States). Dept. of Biological Sciences
  4. Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States). Dept. of Biochemistry
Nitrogenase reduction of dinitrogen (N2) to ammonia (NH3) involves a sequence of events that occur upon the transient association of the reduced Fe protein containing two ATP molecules with the MoFe protein that includes electron transfer, ATP hydrolysis, Pi release, and dissociation of the oxidized, ADP-containing Fe protein from the reduced MoFe protein. Numerous kinetic studies using the nonphysiological electron donor dithionite have suggested that the rate-limiting step in this reaction cycle is the dissociation of the Fe protein from the MoFe protein. Here, we have established the rate constants for each of the key steps in the catalytic cycle using the physiological reductant flavodoxin protein in its hydroquinone state. The findings indicate that with this reductant, the rate-limiting step in the reaction cycle is not protein–protein dissociation or reduction of the oxidized Fe protein, but rather events associated with the Pi release step. Further, it is demonstrated that (i) Fe protein transfers only one electron to MoFe protein in each Fe protein cycle coupled with hydrolysis of two ATP molecules, (ii) the oxidized Fe protein is not reduced when bound to MoFe protein, and (iii) the Fe protein interacts with flavodoxin using the same binding interface that is used with the MoFe protein. These findings allow a revision of the rate-limiting step in the nitrogenase Fe protein cycle.
Research Organization:
Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Center for Biological Electron Transfer and Catalysis (BETCy)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0012518
OSTI ID:
1387866
Journal Information:
Biochemistry, Journal Name: Biochemistry Journal Issue: 26 Vol. 55; ISSN 0006-2960
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Cited By (14)

Electrochemical and structural characterization of Azotobacter vinelandii flavodoxin II: Segal et al. journal August 2017
The Role of Mass Spectrometry in Structural Studies of Flavin-Based Electron Bifurcating Enzymes journal July 2018
Metalloproteins in the Biology of Heterocysts journal April 2019
Bioelectrochemical Haber-Bosch Process: An Ammonia-Producing H 2 /N 2 Fuel Cell journal February 2017
Bioelectrochemical Haber-Bosch Process: An Ammonia-Producing H 2 /N 2 Fuel Cell journal February 2017
Catalysts for nitrogen reduction to ammonia journal July 2018
Resolving the structure of the E 1 state of Mo nitrogenase through Mo and Fe K-edge EXAFS and QM/MM calculations journal January 2019
The oxygen reduction reaction catalyzed by Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 flavodiiron proteins journal January 2019
Two functionally distinct NADP + -dependent ferredoxin oxidoreductases maintain the primary redox balance of Pyrococcus furiosus journal July 2017
The catalytic mechanism of electron-bifurcating electron transfer flavoproteins (ETFs) involves an intermediary complex with NAD + journal December 2018
The path of electron transfer to nitrogenase in a phototrophic alpha‐proteobacterium journal July 2018
A bound reaction intermediate sheds light on the mechanism of nitrogenase journal March 2018
Electron Transfer to Nitrogenase in Different Genomic and Metabolic Backgrounds journal February 2018
Survey of the Geometric and Electronic Structures of the Key Hydrogenated Forms of FeMo-co, the Active Site of the Enzyme Nitrogenase: Principles of the Mechanistically Significant Coordination Chemistry journal January 2019

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