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Metal complexes relating to Nitrogenase cofactors

ReferenceBBS/E/J/40004050
Principal Investigator / Supervisor Dr Raymond Richards
Co-Investigators /
Co-Supervisors
Dr David Hughes, Dr R Sanders
Institution John Innes Centre
DepartmentJohn Innes Centre Department
Funding typeResearch
Value (£) 349,699
StatusCompleted
TypeInstitute Project
Start date 01/04/1997
End date 31/03/2000
Duration36 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 TopicsX – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research PriorityX – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative X - not in an Initiative
Funding SchemeX – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme
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