Nitrogenase assembly mechanism

说明(申请人提供)：固氮酶反应是支持人类种群存在的可用形式氮的主要来源。因此，了解小的构建块如何组装成一个功能性固氮酶实体对人类健康具有重要意义。我们结合遗传、生化、光谱和结构的方法，研究钼固氮酶的活性中心M-簇是如何组装的。具体地说，我们将详细地研究M-团簇的Fe-S核心的形成，Fe-S核心向M-团簇的成熟，以及M-团簇从组装位置到其目标位置的转移。通过我们的研究，我们期望完善M-簇的生物合成途径，这将为研究固氮酶的结构-功能关系和复杂金属簇在生物系统中的一般组装机制提供重要的见解。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Nitrogenase reaction represents a major source of the usable form of nitrogen that supports the existence of human population. As such, understanding how small building blocks are assembled into a functional nitrogenase entity is of significant relevance to human health. Using combined genetic, biochemical, spectroscopic and structural approaches, we propose to investigate how M-cluster, the active center of molybdenum nitrogenase, is assembled. Specifically, we will examine the formation of a Fe-S core of M-cluster, the maturation of Fe-S core into an M-cluster, and the transfer of M-cluster from the assembly site to its target location in great detail. Through our proposed studies, we expect to refine the biosynthetic pathway of M-cluster, which will provide crucial insights into th structural-functional relationship of nitrogenase and the general assembly mechanism of complex metal clusters in biological systems.