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Metal complexes relating to nitrogenase cofactors

Reference	BBS/E/J/00000208
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr R Sanders
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	John Innes Centre
Department	John Innes Centre Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	660,715
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/1997
End date	14/12/2001
Duration	56 months

Abstract

The conversion of atmospheric nitrogen gas to ammonia is a key process in world agriculture. It is catalysed by nitrogenases using metal centres containing Mo/Fe/S, V/Fe/S or Fe/Fe/S cluster cofactors. The project focuses on defining the function of the metal sites in these clusters and interfaces with projects 4026, 4035 and 4032. The objective is to understand how the nitrogenases work at the atomic level. In this interdisciplinary project biochemical expertise is used in the extraction of the cofactors so that their chemistry with a variety of small molecules can be explored. Chemical expertise is used in the preparation of new metal-sulphur complexes which structurally resemble features of the cofactors. X-ray crystallography is used to establish the structural features. The reactivity of these materials with small molecules which are substrates or inhibitors of nitrogenase is then studied to gain insight into the reactions of the cofactors.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Biomolecular Sciences (BMS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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