Binding of a second CO molecule observed (IMAGE)

University of Freiburg

Binding of a second CO molecule observed

Caption

The iron-vanadium (FeV) cofactor in vanadium-dependent nitrogenase was made to react with carbon monoxide (CO) and then gassed under pressure, allowing two molecules of the substrate to be visualized in bound form. FeV cofactor is one of the largest and most complex metal centers in proteins currently known. It consists of seven iron ions (gray), 9 sulfur ions (yellow), a central carbon (black), and a vanadium ion (green), and also carries a carbonate ion and a molecule of homocitrate as organic ligands.

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Graphic: Oliver Einsle

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