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Mechanism of Mo-Dependent Nitrogenase

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Nitrogen Fixation

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 766))

Abstract

Nitrogenase is the enzyme responsible for biological reduction of dinitrogen (N2) to ammonia, a form usable for life. Playing a central role in the global biogeochemical nitrogen cycle, this enzyme has been the focus of intensive research for over 60 years. This chapter provides an overview of the features of nitrogenase as a background to the subsequent chapters of this volume that detail the many methods that have been applied in an attempt to gain a deeper understanding of this complex enzyme.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the long collaboration with the Brian Hoffman and Dennis Dean laboratories in advancing understanding of nitrogenase. Work in the laboratory of the authors is supported by a generous grant from the National Institutes of Health (GM59087).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322, USA

    Zhi-Yong Yang, Karamatullah Danyal & Lance C. Seefeldt

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  1. Zhi-Yong Yang
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  2. Karamatullah Danyal
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  3. Lance C. Seefeldt
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Correspondence to Lance C. Seefeldt .

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  1. , Dept Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, 92697, California, USA

    Markus W. Ribbe

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Yang, ZY., Danyal, K., Seefeldt, L.C. (2011). Mechanism of Mo-Dependent Nitrogenase. In: Ribbe, M. (eds) Nitrogen Fixation. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 766. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-194-9_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-194-9_2

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