title: Nitrogenase Fe protein: A molybdate/homocitrate insertase.
abstract: The Fe protein is indispensable for nitrogenase catalysis and biosynthesis. However, its function in iron-molybdenum cofactor (FeMoco) biosynthesis has not been clearly defined. Here we show that the Fe protein can act as a Mo/homocitrate insertase that mobilizes Mo/homocitrate for the maturation of FeMoco precursor on NifEN. Further, we establish that Mo/homocitrate mobilization by the Fe protein likely involves hydrolysis of MgATP and protein-protein interaction between the Fe protein and NifEN. Our findings not only clarify the role of the Fe protein in FeMoco assembly and assign another function to this multitask enzyme but also provide useful insights into a mechanism of metal trafficking required for the assembly of complex metalloproteins such as nitrogenase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-3900, USA.
authors.forename: Yilin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Mary C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Corbett
authors.forename: Aaron W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Fay
authors.forename: Jerome A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Webber
authors.forename: Keith O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Hodgson
authors.forename: Britt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hedman
authors.forename: Markus W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Ribbe
mesh_terms: D016948:Azotobacter vinelandii / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D008982:Molybdenum / Q000378:metabolism*; D008983:Molybdoferredoxin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014233:Tricarboxylic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008983:Molybdoferredoxin; D014233:Tricarboxylic Acids; C044659:molybdate; C028143:homocitric acid; D008982:Molybdenum; D010088:Oxidoreductases; C029130:nitrogenase reductase