The Mononuclear Metal-Binding Site of Mo-Nitrogenase Is Not Required for Activity.

ABSTRACT: The biological N₂-fixation process is catalyzed exclusively by metallocofactor-containing nitrogenases. Structural and spectroscopic studies highlighted the presence of an additional mononuclear metal-binding (MMB) site, which can coordinate Fe in addition to the two metallocofactors required for the reaction. This MMB site is located 15-Å from the active site, at the interface of two NifK subunits. The enigmatic function of the MMB site and its implications for metallocofactor installation, catalysis, electron transfer, or structural stability are investigated in this work. The axial ligands coordinating the additional Fe are almost universally conserved in Mo-nitrogenases, but a detailed observation of the available structures indicates a variation in occupancy or a metal subs

SUBMITTER: Cadoux C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10685413 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature