Energy transduction by nitrogenase: binding of MgADP to the MoFe protein is dependent on the oxidation state of the iron-sulphur 'P' clusters.

Hydrolysis of MgATP to MgADP is essential for nitrogenase action. There is good evidence for binding of both nucleotides to the Fe protein of nitrogenase, but data indicating their binding to the MoFe protein have been controversial [see Miller and Eady (1989) Biochem. J. 263, 725-729]. The binding of MgADP to the MoFe protein of nitrogenase of Klebsiella pneumoniae was investigated by non-equilibrium gel-filtration column methods. No binding of MgADP to the dithionite-reduced protein could be detected. Treatment of the MoFe protein with phenosafranine [midpoint potential (Em) -270 mV] did not affect the activity, and oxidized the 'P' clusters but not the iron-molybdenum cofactor (FeMoco) centres. This oxidized species bound 3.9 mol of MgADP with a binding pattern characteristic of low rates of ligand dissociation. These observations suggest that the variability in published data on nucleotide binding to the MoFe protein is related to poor control of the protein oxidation level. Our data, coupled with the observation that 'P' clusters become oxidized during reduction of N2 [Lowe, Fisher and Thorneley (1993) Biochem. J., in the press], led us to propose that the ADP binding sites are transiently filled during enzyme turnover by hydrolysis of ATP originally bound to the Fe protein, and that hydrolysis occurs on a bridging site on the MoFe-Fe-protein complex.

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