LAUSR.org creates dashboard-style pages of related content for over 1.5 million academic articles. Sign Up to like articles & get recommendations!

Incorporation of an Asymmetric Mo−Fe−S Cluster as an Artificial Cofactor into Nitrogenase

Photo from wikipedia

Nitrogenase employs a sophisticated electron transfer system and a Mo−Fe−S−C cofactor, designated the M‐cluster [(cit)MoFe7S9C]), to reduce atmospheric N2 to bioaccessible NH3. Previously, we have shown that the cofactor‐free form… Click to show full abstract

Nitrogenase employs a sophisticated electron transfer system and a Mo−Fe−S−C cofactor, designated the M‐cluster [(cit)MoFe7S9C]), to reduce atmospheric N2 to bioaccessible NH3. Previously, we have shown that the cofactor‐free form of nitrogenase can be repurposed as a protein scaffold for the incorporation of a synthetic Fe−S cluster [Fe6S9(SEt)2]4−. Here, we demonstrate the utility of an asymmetric Mo−Fe−S cluster [Cp*MoFe5S9(SH)]3− as an alternative artificial cofactor upon incorporation into the cofactor‐free nitrogenase scaffold. The resultant semi‐artificial enzyme catalytically reduces C2H2 to C2H4, and CN− into short‐chain hydrocarbons, yet it is clearly distinct in activity from its [Fe6S9(SEt)2]4−‐reconstituted counterpart, pointing to the possibility to employ molecular design and cluster synthesis strategies to further develop semi‐artificial or artificial systems with desired catalytic activities.

Keywords: artificial cofactor; nitrogenase; cofactor; cluster; incorporation; asymmetric cluster

Journal Title: ChemBioChem
Year Published: 2022

Link to full text (if available)


Share on Social Media:                               Sign Up to like & get
recommendations!

Related content

More Information              News              Social Media              Video              Recommended



                Click one of the above tabs to view related content.