Research

Nitrogenase Assembly & Mechanism

Movie: Nitrogen Fixation Background

The focus of research of the Ribbe lab is the assembly and mechanism of nitrogenase, one of the most complex metalloenzymes known to date. Nitrogenase can be appreciated from the perspective of the useful agricultural and industrial products it generates, namely, ammonia, hydrogen and hydrocarbons. In the past 15 years, our lab has been focusing on the investigation of the biosynthesis of the Mo-nitrogenase from Azotobacter vinelandii and, in particular, the unique metal centers of its MoFe protein component: FeMoco and P-cluster. Results of our studies have firmly established nitrogenase MoFe protein as a model system that could be used to deduce the general mechanism of metal cluster assembly and develop successful strategies for the synthesis of bio-inspired catalysts that enable important industrial processes. Recently, we have expanded our research to the investigation of the structure and function of the “alternative” V-nitrogenase from Azotobacter vinelandii. Our discovery that V-nitrogenase can convert CO to hydrocarbons provides a potential blueprint for developing cost-efficient processes for industrial production of biofuels in the future.