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Warmack RA, Rees DC. Nitrogenase beyond the Resting State: A Structural Perspective. Molecules 2023; 28:7952. [PMID: 38138444 PMCID: PMC10745740 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28247952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Nitrogenases have the remarkable ability to catalyze the reduction of dinitrogen to ammonia under physiological conditions. How does this happen? The current view of the nitrogenase mechanism focuses on the role of hydrides, the binding of dinitrogen in a reductive elimination process coupled to loss of dihydrogen, and the binding of substrates to a binuclear site on the active site cofactor. This review focuses on recent experimental characterizations of turnover relevant forms of the enzyme determined by cryo-electron microscopy and other approaches, and comparison of these forms to the resting state enzyme and the broader family of iron sulfur clusters. Emerging themes include the following: (i) The obligatory coupling of protein and electron transfers does not occur in synthetic and small-molecule iron-sulfur clusters. The coupling of these processes in nitrogenase suggests that they may involve unique features of the cofactor, such as hydride formation on the trigonal prismatic arrangement of irons, protonation of belt sulfurs, and/or protonation of the interstitial carbon. (ii) Both the active site cofactor and protein are dynamic under turnover conditions; the changes are such that more highly reduced forms may differ in key ways from the resting-state structure. Homocitrate appears to play a key role in coupling cofactor and protein dynamics. (iii) Structural asymmetries are observed in nitrogenase under turnover-relevant conditions by cryo-electron microscopy, although the mechanistic relevance of these states (such as half-of-sites reactivity) remains to be established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeccah A. Warmack
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Douglas C. Rees
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
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Stripp ST, Duffus BR, Fourmond V, Léger C, Leimkühler S, Hirota S, Hu Y, Jasniewski A, Ogata H, Ribbe MW. Second and Outer Coordination Sphere Effects in Nitrogenase, Hydrogenase, Formate Dehydrogenase, and CO Dehydrogenase. Chem Rev 2022; 122:11900-11973. [PMID: 35849738 PMCID: PMC9549741 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Gases like H2, N2, CO2, and CO are increasingly recognized as critical feedstock in "green" energy conversion and as sources of nitrogen and carbon for the agricultural and chemical sectors. However, the industrial transformation of N2, CO2, and CO and the production of H2 require significant energy input, which renders processes like steam reforming and the Haber-Bosch reaction economically and environmentally unviable. Nature, on the other hand, performs similar tasks efficiently at ambient temperature and pressure, exploiting gas-processing metalloenzymes (GPMs) that bind low-valent metal cofactors based on iron, nickel, molybdenum, tungsten, and sulfur. Such systems are studied to understand the biocatalytic principles of gas conversion including N2 fixation by nitrogenase and H2 production by hydrogenase as well as CO2 and CO conversion by formate dehydrogenase, carbon monoxide dehydrogenase, and nitrogenase. In this review, we emphasize the importance of the cofactor/protein interface, discussing how second and outer coordination sphere effects determine, modulate, and optimize the catalytic activity of GPMs. These may comprise ionic interactions in the second coordination sphere that shape the electron density distribution across the cofactor, hydrogen bonding changes, and allosteric effects. In the outer coordination sphere, proton transfer and electron transfer are discussed, alongside the role of hydrophobic substrate channels and protein structural changes. Combining the information gained from structural biology, enzyme kinetics, and various spectroscopic techniques, we aim toward a comprehensive understanding of catalysis beyond the first coordination sphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven T Stripp
- Freie Universität Berlin, Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | | | - Vincent Fourmond
- Laboratoire de Bioénergétique et Ingénierie des Protéines, Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, Institut Microbiologie, Bioénergies et Biotechnologie, CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille 13402, France
| | - Christophe Léger
- Laboratoire de Bioénergétique et Ingénierie des Protéines, Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, Institut Microbiologie, Bioénergies et Biotechnologie, CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille 13402, France
| | - Silke Leimkühler
- University of Potsdam, Molecular Enzymology, Potsdam 14476, Germany
| | - Shun Hirota
- Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Division of Materials Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara 630-0192, Japan
| | - Yilin Hu
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-3900, United States
| | - Andrew Jasniewski
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-3900, United States
| | - Hideaki Ogata
- Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Division of Materials Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara 630-0192, Japan.,Hokkaido University, Institute of Low Temperature Science, Sapporo 060-0819, Japan.,Graduate School of Science, University of Hyogo, Hyogo 678-1297, Japan
| | - Markus W Ribbe
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-3900, United States.,Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Einsle
- Institute for Biochemistry, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Douglas C. Rees
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena California 91125, United States
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4
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Structural characterization of the nitrogenase molybdenum-iron protein with the substrate acetylene trapped near the active site. J Inorg Biochem 2018; 180:129-134. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2017.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Revised: 12/08/2017] [Accepted: 12/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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5
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Artz JH, Zadvornyy OA, Mulder DW, King PW, Peters JW. Structural Characterization of Poised States in the Oxygen Sensitive Hydrogenases and Nitrogenases. Methods Enzymol 2017; 595:213-259. [PMID: 28882202 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2017.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The crystallization of FeS cluster-containing proteins has been challenging due to their oxygen sensitivity, and yet these enzymes are involved in many critical catalytic reactions. The last few years have seen a wealth of innovative experiments designed to elucidate not just structural but mechanistic insights into FeS cluster enzymes. Here, we focus on the crystallization of hydrogenases, which catalyze the reversible reduction of protons to hydrogen, and nitrogenases, which reduce dinitrogen to ammonia. A specific focus is given to the different experimental parameters and strategies that are used to trap distinct enzyme states, specifically, oxidants, reductants, and gas treatments. Other themes presented here include the recent use of Cryo-EM, and how coupling various spectroscopies to crystallization is opening up new approaches for structural and mechanistic analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob H Artz
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Oleg A Zadvornyy
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - David W Mulder
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Biosciences Center, Golden, CO, United States
| | - Paul W King
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Biosciences Center, Golden, CO, United States
| | - John W Peters
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States.
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6
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Mortenson LE, Seefeldt LC, Morgan TV, Bolin JT. The role of metal clusters and MgATP in nitrogenase catalysis. ADVANCES IN ENZYMOLOGY AND RELATED AREAS OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2006; 67:299-374. [PMID: 8322617 DOI: 10.1002/9780470123133.ch4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- L E Mortenson
- Center for Metalloenzyme Studies, University of Georgia, Athens
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Smith BE. Structure, Function, and Biosynthesis of the Metallosulfur Clusters in Nitrogenases. ADVANCES IN INORGANIC CHEMISTRY 1999. [DOI: 10.1016/s0898-8838(08)60078-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Eady RR. Structureminus signFunction Relationships of Alternative Nitrogenases. Chem Rev 1996; 96:3013-3030. [PMID: 11848850 DOI: 10.1021/cr950057h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 540] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Robert R. Eady
- Nitrogen Fixation Laboratory, John Innes Institute, Colney Lane Norwich NR4 7UH U.K
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara K. Burgess
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92717-3900, and Nitrogen Fixation Laboratory, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UH, U.K
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Affiliation(s)
- James B. Howard
- Department of Biochemistry, 435 Delaware Street, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, and Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, 147-75CH, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125
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Abstract
Biological nitrogen fixation is catalyzed by the nitrogenase enzyme system which consists of two metalloproteins, the iron (Fe-) protein and the molybdenum-iron (MoFe-) protein. Together, these proteins mediate the ATP-dependent reduction of dinitrogen to ammonia. Recent crystallographic analyses of Fe-protein and MoFe-protein have revealed the polypeptide fold and the structure and organization of the unusual metal centers in nitrogenase. These structure provide a molecular framework for addressing the mechanism of the nitrogenase-catalyzed reaction. General features of the nitrogenase system, including conformational coupling of nucleotide hydrolysis, aspects of the cluster structures, and the general spatial organization of redox centers within the protein subunits, are relevant to a wide range of biochemical systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Kim
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena 91125
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12
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Dean DR, Bolin JT, Zheng L. Nitrogenase metalloclusters: structures, organization, and synthesis. J Bacteriol 1993; 175:6737-44. [PMID: 8226614 PMCID: PMC206795 DOI: 10.1128/jb.175.21.6737-6744.1993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- D R Dean
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg 24061
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14
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Rees DC, Chan MK, Kim J. Structure and Function of Nitrogenase. ADVANCES IN INORGANIC CHEMISTRY 1993. [DOI: 10.1016/s0898-8838(08)60182-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Affiliation(s)
- R R Eady
- Nitrogen Fixation Laboratory, AFRC Institute of Plant Science Research, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9RQ, UK
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Scott D, Dean D, Newton W. Nitrogenase-catalyzed ethane production and CO-sensitive hydrogen evolution from MoFe proteins having amino acid substitutions in an alpha-subunit FeMo cofactor-binding domain. J Biol Chem 1992. [DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9258(19)88656-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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17
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Abstract
Structural models for the nitrogenase FeMo-cofactor and P-clusters are proposed based on crystallographic analysis of the nitrogenase molybdenum-iron (MoFe)-protein from Azotobacter vinelandii at 2.7 angstrom resolution. Each center consists of two bridged clusters; the FeMo-cofactor has 4Fe:3S and 1Mo:3Fe:3S clusters bridged by three non-protein ligands, and the P-clusters contain two 4Fe:4S clusters bridged by two cysteine thiol ligands. Six of the seven Fe sites in the FeMo-cofactor appear to have trigonal coordination geometry, including one ligand provided by a bridging group. The remaining Fe site has tetrahedral geometry and is liganded to the side chain of Cys alpha 275. The Mo site exhibits approximate octahedral coordination geometry and is liganded by three sulfurs in the cofactor, two oxygens from homocitrate, and the imidazole side chain of His alpha 442. The P-clusters are liganded by six cysteine thiol groups, two which bridge the two clusters, alpha 88 and beta 95, and four which singly coordinate the remaining Fe sites, alpha 62, alpha 154, beta 70, and beta 153. The side chain of Ser beta 188 may also coordinate one iron. The polypeptide folds of the homologous alpha and beta subunits surrounding the P-clusters are approximately related by a twofold rotation that may be utilized in the binding interactions between the MoFe-protein and the nitrogenase Fe-protein. Neither the FeMo-cofactor nor the P-clusters are exposed to the surface, suggesting that substrate entry, electron transfer, and product release must involve a carefully regulated sequence of interactions between the MoFe-protein and Fe-protein of nitrogenase.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Kim
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena 91125
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Wolfinger ED, Bishop PE. Nucleotide sequence and mutational analysis of the vnfENX region of Azotobacter vinelandii. J Bacteriol 1991; 173:7565-72. [PMID: 1938952 PMCID: PMC212524 DOI: 10.1128/jb.173.23.7565-7572.1991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The nucleotide sequence (3,600 bp) of a second copy of nifENX-like genes in Azotobacter vinelandii has been determined. These genes are located immediately downstream from vnfA and have been designated vnfENX. The vnfENX genes appear to be organized as a single transcriptional unit that is preceded by a potential RpoN-dependent promoter. While the nifEN genes are thought to be evolutionarily related to nifDK, the vnfEN genes appear to be more closely related to nifEN than to either nifDK, vnfDK, or anfDK. Mutant strains (CA47 and CA48) carrying insertions in vnfE and vnfN, respectively, are able to grow diazotrophically in molybdenum (Mo)-deficient medium containing vanadium (V) (Vnf+) and in medium lacking both Mo and V (Anf+). However, a double mutant (strain DJ42.48) which contains a nifEN deletion and an insertion in vnfE is unable to grow diazotrophically in Mo-sufficient medium or in Mo-deficient medium with or without V. This suggests that NifE and NifN substitute for VnfE and VnfN when the vnfEN genes are mutationally inactivated. AnfA is not required for the expression of a vnfN-lacZ transcriptional fusion, even though this fusion is expressed under Mo- and V-deficient diazotrophic growth conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- E D Wolfinger
- Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Raleigh, North Carolina
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Characterization of an Fe4S4 (?P?) cluster containing species from the nitrogenase MoFe protein ofAzotobacter vinelandii. Naturwissenschaften 1991. [DOI: 10.1007/bf01134383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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