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Current Understanding of the Biosynthesis of the Unique Nitrogenase Cofactor Core

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Metallocofactors that Activate Small Molecules

Part of the book series: Structure and Bonding ((STRUCTURE,volume 179))

Abstract

Nitrogenase catalyzes the remarkable chemical transformations of N2 to NH3, and C1 substrates to hydrocarbons, under ambient conditions. The best-studied Mo-nitrogenase utilizes a complex metallocofactor ([MoFe7S9C(R-homocitrate)]) for substrate binding and reduction; however, the complexity of this cofactor has hindered a better understanding of its mechanistic details and chemical synthesis so far. Driven by the pressing questions related to the structure and function of the nitrogenase cofactor, research in the past decades has been focused on unraveling the biosynthetic mechanism of this metallocluster in order to cultivate knowledge of how the cofactor is functionalized in this process. In this review, we summarize the recent advances toward a better understanding of the biosynthesis of the nitrogenase cofactor, with a particular focus on the biosynthetic events related to the generation of its unique core structure. Information derived from these studies has unveiled a novel, radical SAM-dependent mechanism of carbide insertion that orchestrates the coupling and rearrangement of two 4Fe cluster modules into a unique 8Fe cofactor core, as well as a sulfite-based route that incorporates a ‘9th sulfur’ at the catalytically important “belt” region of the cofactor. Continued efforts along this line of investigation will further unravel the biosynthetic mechanism of the nitrogenase cofactor while facilitating investigations into the elusive catalytic mechanism of nitrogenase.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by NIH-NIGMS grant GM67626 (to Markus W. Ribbe and Yilin Hu).

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  1. Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA

    Caleb J. Hiller, Lee A. Rettberg, Chi Chung Lee, Martin T. Stiebritz & Yilin Hu

  2. Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA

    Caleb J. Hiller

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  1. Caleb J. Hiller
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  2. Lee A. Rettberg
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  1. Departments of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, and Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA

    Markus W. Ribbe

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Hiller, C.J., Rettberg, L.A., Lee, C.C., Stiebritz, M.T., Hu, Y. (2018). Current Understanding of the Biosynthesis of the Unique Nitrogenase Cofactor Core. In: Ribbe, M. (eds) Metallocofactors that Activate Small Molecules. Structure and Bonding, vol 179. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/430_2018_29

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