A Major Structural Change of the Homocitrate Ligand of Probable Importance for the Nitrogenase Mechanism

Mo-containing nitrogenase is the main enzyme that is able to take N2 from the air and form ammonia. The active-site cofactor of the enzyme, termed FeMoco, is unique in nature. It has seven Fe and one Mo atoms connected by S bridges, with a C atom in the center of the cofactor. Another unusual featur...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Inorganic chemistry 2018-02, Vol.57 (3), p.1090-1095
Main Author: Siegbahn, Per E. M
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Mo-containing nitrogenase is the main enzyme that is able to take N2 from the air and form ammonia. The active-site cofactor of the enzyme, termed FeMoco, is unique in nature. It has seven Fe and one Mo atoms connected by S bridges, with a C atom in the center of the cofactor. Another unusual feature is that it has a large homocitrate ligand known to be of importance for catalysis. In the present computational study, the role of the homocitrate ligand is investigated. It is found that a large structural change, which makes MoIII five-coordinated, is energetically favorable in the more reduced states. This is of probable importance for the nitrogenase mechanism.
ISSN:0020-1669
1520-510X
1520-510X
DOI:10.1021/acs.inorgchem.7b02493