Nitrogenase XI: Mössbauer studies on the cofactor centers of the MoFe protein from Azotobacter vinelandii OP. 1979

B H Huynh, and E Münck, and W H Orme-Johnson

We have studied the MoFe protein from Azotobacter vinelandii OP with Mössbauer spectroscopy in applied magnetic fields up to 50 kG. The results are as follows. (1) The Mössbauer spectra of the S = 3/2 centers, which reside on the cofactor of nitrogenase, have been decomposed into six subcomponents. This suggests that each center contains 5-7, most probably 6, Fe atoms, thus confirming our earlier conclusions which were based on the quantitation of EPR data and on the assumption that the MoFe protein contains (30 +/- 2) Fe atoms. (2) Analysis of the high-field data shows that three subsites are characterized by a positive magnetic hyperfine coupling constant, A0, while A0 is negative for the other three sites. This observation demonstrates that the S = 3/2 centers are spin-coupled structures. (3) The zero-field splitting parameter D = +(6 +/- 1.5) cm-1 obtained from the Mössbauer data is in good agreement with our earlier EPR results, D approximately +5.5 cm-1. (4) The resolution of the Mössbauer spectra of the MoFe protein can be dramatically increased by employing Fourier transform deconvolution techniques. This allows a clear demonstration of spectral component S.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007501 Iron A metallic element with atomic symbol Fe, atomic number 26, and atomic weight 55.85. It is an essential constituent of HEMOGLOBINS; CYTOCHROMES; and IRON-BINDING PROTEINS. It plays a role in cellular redox reactions and in the transport of OXYGEN. Iron-56,Iron 56
D008982 Molybdenum A metallic element with the atomic symbol Mo, atomic number 42, and atomic weight 95.95. It is an essential trace element, being a component of the enzymes xanthine oxidase, aldehyde oxidase, and nitrate reductase. Molybdenum-98,Molybdenum 98
D009591 Nitrogenase An enzyme system that catalyzes the fixing of nitrogen in soil bacteria and blue-green algae (CYANOBACTERIA). EC 1.18.6.1. Dinitrogenase,Vanadium Nitrogenase,Nitrogenase, Vanadium
D011485 Protein Binding The process in which substances, either endogenous or exogenous, bind to proteins, peptides, enzymes, protein precursors, or allied compounds. Specific protein-binding measures are often used as assays in diagnostic assessments. Plasma Protein Binding Capacity,Binding, Protein
D011487 Protein Conformation The characteristic 3-dimensional shape of a protein, including the secondary, supersecondary (motifs), tertiary (domains) and quaternary structure of the peptide chain. PROTEIN STRUCTURE, QUATERNARY describes the conformation assumed by multimeric proteins (aggregates of more than one polypeptide chain). Conformation, Protein,Conformations, Protein,Protein Conformations
D001395 Azotobacter A genus of gram-negative, aerobic bacteria found in soil and water. Its organisms occur singly, in pairs or irregular clumps, and sometimes in chains of varying lengths.
D013057 Spectrum Analysis The measurement of the amplitude of the components of a complex waveform throughout the frequency range of the waveform. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed) Spectroscopy,Analysis, Spectrum,Spectrometry

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