Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 12 April 2002:
Vol. 296. no. 5566, pp. 352 - 356
DOI: 10.1126/science.1070010
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Reports

Structure of a Cofactor-Deficient Nitrogenase MoFe Protein

Benedikt Schmid,1* Markus W. Ribbe,4* Oliver Einsle,13 Mika Yoshida,13 Leonard M. Thomas,23 Dennis R. Dean,5 Douglas C. Rees,13dagger Barbara K. Burgess4

One of the most complex biosynthetic processes in metallobiochemistry is the assembly of nitrogenase, the key enzyme in biological nitrogen fixation. We describe here the crystal structure of an iron-molybdenum cofactor-deficient form of the nitrogenase MoFe protein, into which the cofactor is inserted in the final step of MoFe protein assembly. The MoFe protein folds as a heterotetramer containing two copies each of the homologous alpha  and beta  subunits. In this structure, one of the three alpha  subunit domains exhibits a substantially changed conformation, whereas the rest of the protein remains essentially unchanged. A predominantly positively charged funnel is revealed; this funnel is of sufficient size to accommodate insertion of the negatively charged cofactor.

1 Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Mail Code 147-75CH;
2 Division of Biology, Mail Code 156-29;
3 Howard Hughes Medical Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
4 Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-3900, USA.
5 Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
*   These authors contributed equally to this work.

dagger    To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: dcrees{at}caltech.edu

Read the Full Text


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Stepwise formation of P-cluster in nitrogenase MoFe protein.
C. C. Lee, M. A. Blank, A. W. Fay, J. M. Yoshizawa, Y. Hu, K. O. Hodgson, B. Hedman, and M. W. Ribbe (2009)
PNAS 106, 18474-18478
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
In vitro synthesis of the iron molybdenum cofactor of nitrogenase from iron, sulfur, molybdenum, and homocitrate using purified proteins.
L. Curatti, J. A. Hernandez, R. Y. Igarashi, B. Soboh, D. Zhao, and L. M. Rubio (2007)
PNAS 104, 17626-17631
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
P-cluster maturation on nitrogenase MoFe protein.
Y. Hu, A. W. Fay, C. C. Lee, and M. W. Ribbe (2007)
PNAS 104, 10424-10429
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
From the Cover: Nitrogen Fixation Special Feature: FeMo cofactor maturation on NifEN.
Y. Hu, M. C. Corbett, A. W. Fay, J. A. Webber, K. O. Hodgson, B. Hedman, and M. W. Ribbe (2006)
PNAS 103, 17119-17124
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Molecular Insights into Nitrogenase FeMoco Insertion: TRP-444 OF MoFe PROTEIN {alpha}-SUBUNIT LOCKS FeMoco IN ITS BINDING SITE.
Y. Hu, A. W. Fay, B. Schmid, B. Makar, and M. W. Ribbe (2006)
J. Biol. Chem. 281, 30534-30541
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Structural insights into a protein-bound iron-molybdenum cofactor precursor.
M. C. Corbett, Y. Hu, A. W. Fay, M. W. Ribbe, B. Hedman, and K. O. Hodgson (2006)
PNAS 103, 1238-1243
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Nitrogenase reactivity with P-cluster variants.
Y. Hu, M. C. Corbett, A. W. Fay, J. A. Webber, B. Hedman, K. O. Hodgson, and M. W. Ribbe (2005)
PNAS 102, 13825-13830
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Identification of a nitrogenase FeMo cofactor precursor on NifEN complex.
Y. Hu, A. W. Fay, and M. W. Ribbe (2005)
PNAS 102, 3236-3241
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Maturation of Nitrogenase: a Biochemical Puzzle.
L. M. Rubio and P. W. Ludden (2005)
J. Bacteriol. 187, 405-414
   Full Text »    PDF »
Characterization of Azotobacter vinelandii nifZ Deletion Strains: INDICATION OF STEPWISE MoFe PROTEIN ASSEMBLY.
Y. Hu, A. W. Fay, P. C. Dos Santos, F. Naderi, and M. W. Ribbe (2004)
J. Biol. Chem. 279, 54963-54971
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Comparison of Iron-Molybdenum Cofactor-deficient Nitrogenase MoFe Proteins by X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy: IMPLICATIONS FOR P-CLUSTER BIOSYNTHESIS.
M. C. Corbett, Y. Hu, F. Naderi, M. W. Ribbe, B. Hedman, and K. O. Hodgson (2004)
J. Biol. Chem. 279, 28276-28282
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The Three-dimensional Structure of the Core Domain of Naf Y from Azotobacter vinelandii determined at 1.8-A Resolution.
D. H. Dyer, L. M. Rubio, J. B. Thoden, H. M. Holden, P. W. Ludden, and I. Rayment (2003)
J. Biol. Chem. 278, 32150-32156
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The structure of Escherichia coli BtuF and binding to its cognate ATP binding cassette transporter.
E. L. Borths, K. P. Locher, A. T. Lee, and D. C. Rees (2002)
PNAS 99, 16642-16647
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)