Skip to main content
eScholarship
Open Access Publications from the University of California

UC Davis

UC Davis Previously Published Works bannerUC Davis

Docking and Migration of Carbon Monoxide in Nitrogenase: The Case for Gated Pockets from Infrared Spectroscopy and Molecular Dynamics

Abstract

Evidence of a CO docking site near the FeMo cofactor in nitrogenase has been obtained by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-monitored low-temperature photolysis. We investigated the possible migration paths for CO from this docking site using molecular dynamics calculations. The simulations support the notion of a gas channel with multiple internal pockets from the active site to the protein exterior. Travel between pockets is gated by the motion of protein residues. Implications for the mechanism of nitrogenase reactions with CO and N2 are discussed.

Many UC-authored scholarly publications are freely available on this site because of the UC's open access policies. Let us know how this access is important for you.

Main Content
For improved accessibility of PDF content, download the file to your device.
Current View