Belt-sulfur mobilization as a crucial mechanistic feature shared between the vanadium and molybdenum nitrogenases

Lee CC, Chatterjee K, Yano J, Kern J, Stiebritz M, Ribbe MW, Hu Y (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Chem Catalysis Elsevier

Article Number: 101366

DOI: 10.1016/j.checat.2025.101366

Abstract

Nitrogenase catalyzes the reduction of N2 to NH3 at its active site cofactor. Recent studies of the “conventional” Mo-nitrogenase suggest a plausible involvement of all cofactor belt-S sites in catalysis. Here, we use analytical, enzymatic, and spectroscopic methods to demonstrate the same dynamic belt-S mobilization by the “alternative” V-nitrogenase during catalysis. Our results point to belt-S turnover as a common catalytic feature of the homologous Mo- and V-nitrogenases while identifying an activated but N2-free conformation of the V-nitrogenase that holds great potential for facilitating future mechanistic explorations of the intriguing nitrogenase enzyme.

Involved external institutions

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) US United States (USA) (US) University of California Irvine US United States (USA) (US)

How to cite

APA:

Lee, C.C., Chatterjee, K., Yano, J., Kern, J., Stiebritz, M., Ribbe, M.W., & Hu, Y. (2025). Belt-sulfur mobilization as a crucial mechanistic feature shared between the vanadium and molybdenum nitrogenases. Chem Catalysis. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.checat.2025.101366

MLA:

Lee, Chi Chung, et al. "Belt-sulfur mobilization as a crucial mechanistic feature shared between the vanadium and molybdenum nitrogenases." Chem Catalysis (2025).

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