Investigating the Molybdenum Nitrogenase Mechanistic Cycle Using Spectroelectrochemistry.

ABSTRACT: Molybdenum nitrogenase plays a crucial role in the biological nitrogen cycle by catalyzing the reduction of dinitrogen (N₂) to ammonia (NH₃) under ambient conditions. However, the underlying mechanisms of nitrogenase catalysis, including electron and proton transfer dynamics, remain only partially understood. In this study, we covalently attached molybdenum nitrogenase (MoFe) to gold electrodes and utilized surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRA) coupled with electrochemistry techniques to investigate its catalytic mechanism. Our biohybrid system enabled electron transfer via a mild mediator, likely mimicking the natural electron flow through the P-cluster to FeMoco, the enzyme's active site. For the first time, we experimentally observed both termin

SUBMITTER: Sengupta K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11744760 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature