title: ATP- and iron-protein-independent activation of nitrogenase catalysis by light.
abstract: We report here the light-driven activation of the molybdenum-iron-protein (MoFeP) of nitrogenase for substrate reduction independent of ATP hydrolysis and the iron-protein (FeP), which have been believed to be essential for catalytic turnover. A MoFeP variant labeled on its surface with a Ru-photosensitizer is shown to photocatalytically reduce protons and acetylene, most likely at its active site, FeMoco. The uncoupling of nitrogenase catalysis from ATP hydrolysis should enable the study of redox dynamics within MoFeP and the population of discrete reaction intermediates for structural investigations.
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Diego, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, La Jolla, California 92093-0356, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Joey C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: F Akif
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Tezcan
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D055162:Biocatalysis; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008027:Light; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D008983:Molybdoferredoxin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D009591:Nitrogenase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D011485:Protein Binding; D012428:Ruthenium / Q000737:chemistry; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D008983:Molybdoferredoxin; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D012428:Ruthenium; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D009591:Nitrogenase