Materials and methodsMoFe protein from aerobically grown cells of Azotobacter vinelandii was purified as described previously (1). Crystals were obtained by equilibrating a reservoir solution containing 13% polyethylene glycol 8000, 1 M sodium chloride and 0.1 M Tris-hydroxyethylaminomethane/HCl buffer at pH 8.0 against 8 µl of a 1:1 mixture of 30 mg/ml of MoFe protein and the reservoir solution under strictly anaerobic conditions. For flash-cooling, the crystals were

Structural data show that the light atom at the center of the nitrogenase active site cofactor is a carbon.

The mechanism of nitrogenase remains enigmatic, with a major unresolved issue concerning how inhibitors and substrates bind to the active site. We report a crystal structure of carbon monoxide (CO) inhibited nitrogenase MoFe-protein at 1.50 Å resolution, revealing a CO molecule bridging Fe2 and Fe6 of the FeMo-cofactor. The μ2 binding geometry is achieved by replacing a belt-sulfur atom (S2B) and highlights the generation of a reactive iron species uncovered by the displacement of sulfur. The CO inhibition is fully reversible as established by regain of enzyme activity and reappearance of S2B in the 1.43 Å resolution structure of the reactivated enzyme. The substantial and reversible reorganization of the FeMo-cofactor accompanying CO binding was unanticipated and provides insights into a catalytically competent state of nitrogenase.

Reduction of N by nitrogenases occurs at an organometallic iron cofactor that commonly also contains either molybdenum or vanadium. The well-characterized resting state of the cofactor does not bind substrate, so its mode of action remains enigmatic. Carbon monoxide was recently found to replace a bridging sulfide, but the mechanistic relevance was unclear. Here we report the structural analysis of vanadium nitrogenase with a bound intermediate, interpreted as a μ-bridging, protonated nitrogen that implies the site and mode of substrate binding to the cofactor. Binding results in a flip of amino acid glutamine 176, which hydrogen-bonds the ligand and creates a holding position for the displaced sulfide. The intermediate likely represents state E or E of the Thorneley-Lowe model and provides clues to the remainder of the catalytic cycle.