US EPA

4835247 

Journal Article 

Review 

The role of X-ray spectroscopy in understanding the geometric and electronic structure of nitrogenase 

Kowalska, J; Debeer, S 

2015 

1 

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta
ISSN: 0006-3002
EISSN: 1878-2434 

1853 

6 

1406-1415 

English 

25486459 

10.1016/j.bbamcr.2014.11.027 

WOS:000353729500011 

X-ray absorption (XAS) and X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) provide element specific probes of the geometric and electronic structures of metalloprotein active sites. As such, these methods have played an integral role in nitrogenase research beginning with the first EXAFS studies on nitrogenase in the late 1970s. Herein, we briefly explain the information that can be extracted from XAS and XES. We then highlight the recent applications of these methods in nitrogenase research. The influence of X-ray spectroscopy on our current understanding of the atomic structure and electronic structure of iron molybdenum cofactor (FeMoco) is emphasized. Contributions of X-ray spectroscopy to understanding substrate interactions and cluster biosynthesis are also discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Fe/S proteins: Analysis, structure, function, biogenesis and diseases.