Fe protein-independent substrate reduction by nitrogenase MoFe protein variants.

The reduction of substrates catalyzed by nitrogenase normally requires nucleotide-dependent Fe protein delivery of electrons to the MoFe protein, which contains the active site FeMo cofactor. Here, it is reported that independent substitution of three amino acids (ß-98(Tyr→His), α-64(Tyr→His), and ß-99(Phe→His)) located between the P cluster and FeMo cofactor within the MoFe protein endows it with the ability to reduce protons to H2, azide to ammonia, and hydrazine to ammonia without the need for Fe protein or ATP. Instead, electrons can be provided by the low-potential reductant polyaminocarboxylate-ligated Eu(II) (Em values of -1.1 to -0.84 V vs the normal hydrogen electrode). The crystal structure of the ß-98(Tyr→His) variant MoFe protein was determined, revealing only small changes near the amino acid substitution that affect the solvent structure and the immediate vicinity between the P cluster and the FeMo cofactor, with no global conformational changes observed. Computational normal-mode analysis of the nitrogenase complex reveals coupling in the motions of the Fe protein and the region of the MoFe protein with these three amino acids, which suggests a possible mechanism for how Fe protein might communicate subtle changes deep within the MoFe protein that profoundly affect intramolecular electron transfer and substrate reduction.

Uncoupling nitrogenase: catalytic reduction of hydrazine to ammonia by a MoFe protein in the absence of Fe protein-ATP.

The catalytic reduction of hydrazine (N(2)H(4)) to ammonia by a ß-98(Tyr→His) MoFe protein in the absence of the Fe protein or ATP is reported. The reduction of N(2) or other substrates (e.g., hydrazine, protons, acetylene) by nitrogenase normally requires the transient association of the two nitrogenase component proteins, the Fe protein and the MoFe protein. The Fe protein, with two bound MgATP molecules, transfers one electron to the MoFe protein during each association, coupled to the hydrolysis of two MgATP. All substrate reduction reactions catalyzed by nitrogenase require delivery of electrons by the Fe protein coupled to the hydrolysis of MgATP. We report that when a single amino acid within the MoFe protein (ß-98(Tyr)) is substituted by His, the resulting MoFe protein supports catalytic reduction of the nitrogenous substrate hydrazine (N(2)H(4)) to two ammonia molecules when provided with a low potential reductant, polyaminocarboxylate ligated Eu(II) (E(m) -1.1 V vs NHE). The wild-type and a number of other MoFe proteins with amino acid substitutions do not show significant rates of hydrazine reduction under these conditions, whereas the ß-98(His) MoFe protein catalyzes hydrazine reduction at rates up to 170 nmol NH(3)/min/mg MoFe protein. This rate of hydrazine reduction is 94% of the rate catalyzed by the ß-98(His) or wild-type MoFe protein when combined with the Fe protein, ATP, and reductant under comparable conditions. The ß-98(His) MoFe protein reduction of hydrazine in the absence of the Fe protein showed saturation kinetics for the concentration of reductant and substrate. The implications of these results in understanding the nitrogenase mechanism are discussed.