title: Molybdenum trafficking for nitrogen fixation.
abstract: The molybdenum nitrogenase is responsible for most biological nitrogen fixation, a prokaryotic metabolic process that determines the global biogeochemical cycles of nitrogen and carbon. Here we describe the trafficking of molybdenum for nitrogen fixation in the model diazotrophic bacterium Azotobacter vinelandii. The genes and proteins involved in molybdenum uptake, homeostasis, storage, regulation, and nitrogenase cofactor biosynthesis are reviewed. Molybdenum biochemistry in A. vinelandii reveals unexpected mechanisms and a new role for iron-sulfur clusters in the sequestration and delivery of molybdenum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Midwestern University, Glendale, Arizona 85308, USA.
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: Simon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Rubio
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016948:Azotobacter vinelandii / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005740:Gases; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006706:Homeostasis; D007700:Kinetics; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008982:Molybdenum / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008983:Molybdoferredoxin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D009586:Nitrogen Fixation / Q000235:genetics*; D009591:Nitrogenase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D005740:Gases; C101050:ModE protein, bacteria; D008983:Molybdoferredoxin; C489918:NifQ protein, Azotobacter vinelandii; D011506:Proteins; D012987:Soil; D014157:Transcription Factors; C044659:molybdate; D008982:Molybdenum; D009591:Nitrogenase