Direct assessment of the reduction potential of the [4Fe-4S](1+/0) couple of the Fe protein from Azotobacter vinelandii

J Am Chem Soc. 2002 Oct 16;124(41):12100-1. doi: 10.1021/ja026478f.

Abstract

Recently, it has been demonstrated that the [4Fe-4S] cluster of the Fe protein of nitrogenase from Azotobacter vinelandii can be reduced to an unprecedented all-ferrous state. In this work, the reduction potential for the formation of the all-ferrous state is measured by the reactions of the reduced and oxidized Fe protein with a variety of chemical redox active agents, and by mediated spectroelectrochemical titration. Redox titrations obtain a potential ca. -790 mV/NHE for the formation of the all-ferrous state, a value consistent with the chemical reactivity experiments and with recent theoretical calculations. At present, no known redox protein in A. vinelandii is capable of generating the all-ferrous Fe protein.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Azotobacter vinelandii / enzymology*
  • Electrolysis
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Oxidoreductases / chemistry*
  • Oxidoreductases / metabolism
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet

Substances

  • Oxidoreductases
  • nitrogenase reductase