Nitrogenase (Nase) is an enzyme that fixes atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia. Though abundantly present in the atmosphere, most organisms cannot utilize N2 directly, and must instead take it in through other forms, like ammonia or nitrate. The triple bond in N2 is highly resistant to changes in oxidation state, and nitrogenases, found only in nitrogen-fixing bacteria, are the only proteins capable of reducing N2 to ammonia.
Nitrogenase catalyzes the following reaction:
N2 + 8 H+ + 16 MgATP + 8 e- → 2NH3 + H2 + 16 MgADP + 16 Pi
Two different proteins comprise the nitrogenase complex. The FeMo protein binds substrate and reduces H+ and N2 to H2 and ammonia, while the Fe protein receives electrons from ferredoxin, hydrolyzes ATP, and reduces the FeMo protein. To the right is shown a crystal structure (PDB entry 1n2c[1]) where two complexes of FeMo protein bound to Fe protein were crystallized together. Click here to see only one complex.
The Fe protein is here bound to two ADP x AlF4-, an analog for the planar transition state of ATP hydrolysis. The motif that binds ATP is a conserved nucleotide binding motif called Walker's motif A. Coloring by evolutionary conservation, the nucleotide binding pocket is clear. At the bottom of the protein, where the Fe protein comes into contact with the FeMo protein, is a 4Fe:4S cluster, held in place by cysteines. This cluster accepts electrons from ferredoxin and gives electrons to the FeMo protein.
When the Fe protein is bound to the FeMo protein (zoom out), ATP is hydrolyzed and electrons that were transferred to the 4Fe:4S cluster of the Fe protein by ferredoxin are transferred to the FeMo protein. The crystal structure of the complete nitrogenase complex reveals how the binding of the Fe and FeMo proteins, the hydrolysis of ATP, and the transfer of electrons are all coupled. The figure below summarizes how these processes are linked.
Before this crystal structure showing the complete nitrogenase complex was solved, crystal structures of the Fe and FeMo proteins had been solved, but the mechanisms of ATP hydrolysis and electron transfer were still unknown. In this structure, as indicated in the figure above, the two subunits of the Fe protein were observed to have swung closer together. This movement results from Fe protein binding to FeMo protein. Focusing in on the ATP binding pocket discussed above, especially on the AlF4- that is an analog for the negatively charged planar transition state reveals that there are several positive charges in this vicinity that stabilize the transition state. Importantly, Lys 10 from the opposite subunit is an important source of stabilizing positive charge. Only in this structure where the two subunits have swung closer together is this residue in position to help catalyze the hydrolysis of the terminal phosphate of ATP.
For these reasons, binding of Fe protein to FeMo protein results in hydrolysis of ATP. Additionally, the 4Fe:4S cluster is lowered close enough to the metal-sulfur clusters of the FeMo protein that electron transfer can occur. All three clusters found in the Fe protein-FeMo protein complex can be seen here. Once the electrons have passed from the 4Fe:4S cluster of the Fe protein to the 8Fe:7S cluster of the FeMo protein, they then transfer to the 7Fe:Mo:9S:homocitrate:X cluster where X is an unidentified light atom. It is at this cluster where reduction of N2 and H+ occur. The exact mechanism of reduction, however, is still unknown.
- ↑ Schindelin H, Kisker C, Schlessman JL, Howard JB, Rees DC. Structure of ADP x AIF4(-)-stabilized nitrogenase complex and its implications for signal transduction. Nature. 1997 May 22;387(6631):370-6. PMID:9163420 doi:10.1038/387370a0
