Nitrogenase reaction represents a major source of the usable form of nitrogen that supports the existence of human population. As such, understanding how small building blocks are assembled into a functional nitrogenase entity is of significant relevance to human health. Using combined genetic, biochemical, spectroscopic and structural approaches, we propose to investigate how M-cluster, the active center of molybdenum nitrogenase, is assembled. Specifically, we will examine the formation of a Fe-S core of M-cluster, the maturation of Fe-S core into an M-cluster, and the transfer of M-cluster from the assembly site to its target location in great detail. Through our proposed studies, we expect to refine the biosynthetic pathway of M-cluster, which will provide crucial insights into th structural-functional relationship of nitrogenase and the general assembly mechanism of complex metal clusters in biological systems.
Using combined genetic, biochemical, spectroscopic and structural approaches, we propose to investigate how M-cluster, the active center of molybdenum nitrogenase, is assembled. Through our proposed studies, we expect to refine the biosynthetic mechanism of M-cluster, which will provide crucial insights into the structural-functional relationship of nitrogenase and the general assembly scheme of complex metal clusters in biological systems.
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| Tanifuji, Kazuki; Lee, Chi Chung; Sickerman, Nathaniel S et al. (2018) Tracing the 'ninth sulfur' of the nitrogenase cofactor via a semi-synthetic approach. Nat Chem 10:568-572 |
| Rupnik, Kresimir; Lee, Chi Chung; Hu, Yilin et al. (2018) A VTVH MCD and EPR Spectroscopic Study of the Maturation of the ""Second"" Nitrogenase P-Cluster. Inorg Chem 57:4719-4725 |
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| Fay, Aaron W; Blank, Michael A; Rebelein, Johannes G et al. (2016) Assembly scaffold NifEN: A structural and functional homolog of the nitrogenase catalytic component. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 113:9504-8 |
| Lee, Chi Chung; Fay, Aaron W; Weng, Tsu-Chien et al. (2015) Uncoupling binding of substrate CO from turnover by vanadium nitrogenase. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 112:13845-9 |
| Wiig, Jared A; Hu, Yilin; Ribbe, Markus W (2015) Refining the pathway of carbide insertion into the nitrogenase M-cluster. Nat Commun 6:8034 |
| Cahn, Jackson K B; Brinkmann-Chen, Sabine; Spatzal, Thomas et al. (2015) Cofactor specificity motifs and the induced fit mechanism in class I ketol-acid reductoisomerases. Biochem J 468:475-84 |
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