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Exploring the alternatives of biological nitrogen fixation
Florence Mus1, Alexander B Alleman, Natasha Pence
1Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99163, USA. jw.peters@wsu.edu.
Metallomics : Integrated Biometal Science
|April 10, 2018
Summary
Biological nitrogen fixation primarily uses molybdenum nitrogenase (Mo-nitrogenase). Recent studies suggest Mo-nitrogenase evolved first, with vanadium (V-nitrogenase) and iron-only (Fe-only nitrogenase) forms arising later, contrary to earlier theories.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Evolutionary Biology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is crucial for life, mainly performed by molybdenum nitrogenase (Mo-nitrogenase).
- Alternative nitrogenases, vanadium (V-nitrogenase) and iron-only (Fe-only nitrogenase), exist but their evolutionary role is debated.
- Previous hypotheses suggested alternative nitrogenases were ancestral due to early Earth's low molybdenum availability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the biochemistry, genetics, and evolution of nitrogenase enzymes.
- To present a new model for nitrogenase evolution based on recent phylogenetic and structural data.
- To explore the influence of metal availability on nitrogenase evolution and distribution.
Main Methods:
- Phylogenetic analysis
- Structural biology studies
- Review of existing literature on nitrogenase biochemistry and genetics
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests Mo-nitrogenase evolved first within methanogenic archaea.
- Alternative nitrogenases (V-nitrogenase, Fe-only nitrogenase) likely arose later.
- Nitrogenase evolution is linked to metal availability and environmental factors.
Conclusions:
- The evolutionary path of nitrogenases is more complex than previously thought.
- Mo-nitrogenase is likely the ancestral form, with alternative forms evolving in response to environmental conditions.
- Understanding nitrogenase evolution provides insights into microbial adaptation and biogeochemical cycles.
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