Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
image/svg+xml art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos Open Access logo, converted into svg, designed by PLoS. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Open_Access_logo_PLoS_white.svg art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos http://www.plos.org/ Inorganic Chemistryarrow_drop_down
image/svg+xml art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos Open Access logo, converted into svg, designed by PLoS. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Open_Access_logo_PLoS_white.svg art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos http://www.plos.org/
image/svg+xml art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos Open Access logo, converted into svg, designed by PLoS. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Open_Access_logo_PLoS_white.svg art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos http://www.plos.org/
Opin visindi
Article . 2017 . Peer-reviewed
Data sources: Opin visindi
Inorganic Chemistry
Article . 2017 . Peer-reviewed
Data sources: Crossref
versions View all 3 versions
addClaim

This Research product is the result of merged Research products in OpenAIRE.

You have already added 0 works in your ORCID record related to the merged Research product.

QM/MM Study of the Nitrogenase MoFe Protein Resting State: Broken-Symmetry States, Protonation States, and QM Region Convergence in the FeMoco Active Site

Authors: Bardi Benediktsson; Ragnar Bjornsson;

QM/MM Study of the Nitrogenase MoFe Protein Resting State: Broken-Symmetry States, Protonation States, and QM Region Convergence in the FeMoco Active Site

Abstract

Nitrogenase is one of the most fascinating enzymes in nature, being responsible for all biological nitrogen reduction. Despite decades of research, it is among the enzymes in bioinorganic chemistry whose mechanism is the most poorly understood. The MoFe protein of nitrogenase contains an iron-molybdenum-sulfur cluster, FeMoco, where N2 reduction takes place. The resting state of FeMoco has been characterized by crystallography, multiple spectroscopic techniques, and theory (broken-symmetry density functional theory), and all heavy atoms are now characterized. The cofactor charge, however, has been controversial, the electronic structure has proved enigmatic, and little is known about the mechanism. While many computational studies have been performed on FeMoco, few have taken the protein environment properly into account. In this study, we put forward QM/MM models of the MoFe protein from Azotobacter vinelandii, centered on FeMoco. By a detailed analysis of the FeMoco geometry and comparison to the atomic resolution crystal structure, we conclude that only the [MoFe7S9C]1- charge is a possible resting state charge. Further, we find that of the three lowest energy broken-symmetry solutions of FeMoco, the BS7-235 spin isomer (where 235 refers to Fe atoms that are "spin-down") is the only one that can be reconciled with experiment. This is revealed by a comparison of the metal-metal distances in the experimental crystal structure, a rare case of spin-coupling phenomena being visible through the molecular structure. This could be interpreted as the enzyme deliberately stabilizing a specific electronic state of the cofactor, possibly for tuning specific reactivity on specific metal atoms. Finally, we show that the alkoxide group on the Mo-bound homocitrate must be protonated under resting state conditions, the presence of which has implications regarding the nature of FeMoco redox states as well as for potential substrate reduction mechanisms.

Related Organizations
Keywords

Efnasambönd, Ólífræn efnafræði, Lífefnafræði, Ensím

  • BIP!
    Impact byBIP!
    selected citations
    These citations are derived from selected sources.
    This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    84
    popularity
    This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
    Top 1%
    influence
    This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    Top 10%
    impulse
    This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
    Top 1%
Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
84
Top 1%
Top 10%
Top 1%
Green
bronze