Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 21, 2026

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy as a Tool for Electrochemical Rate Constant Estimation
Published on: October 10, 2018
Electrochemical Characterization of Isolated Nitrogenase Cofactors from Azotobacter vinelandii
Brian R Lydon1, Chi Chung Lee2, Kazuki Tanifuji2
1Department of Chemistry, University of California, 1102 Natural Sciences II, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
Abstract:
The nitrogenase cofactors are structurally and functionally unique in biological chemistry. Despite a substantial amount of spectroscopic characterization of protein-bound and isolated nitrogenase cofactors, electrochemical characterization of these cofactors and their related species is far from complete. Herein we present voltammetric studies of three isolated nitrogenase cofactor species: the iron-molybdenum cofactor (M-cluster), iron-vanadium cofactor (V-cluster), and a homologue to the iron-iron cofactor (L-cluster). We observe two reductive events in the redox profiles of all three cofactors. Of the three, the V-cluster is the most reducing. The reduction potentials of the isolated cofactors are significantly more negative than previously measured values within the molybdenum-iron and vanadium-iron proteins. The outcome of this study provides insight into the importance of the heterometal identity, the overall ligation of the cluster, and the impact of the protein scaffolds on the overall electronic structures of the cofactors.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Cofactors and Coenzymes
Cofactors and Coenzymes
Cofactors can be metallic ions or organic molecules called coenzymes. These types of helper...
What is an Electrochemical Gradient?
The chemical gradient relies on differences in the abundance of a substance on the outside versus the inside of a cell and flows from areas of high to low ion concentration. In contrast, the electrical gradient revolves around an...
Interfacial Electrochemical Methods: Overview
Electrochemical Gradient and Channel Proteins: An Overview
The electrical gradient: The electrical gradient across cell membranes refers to the difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a cell. This difference drives the movement of ions towards or away from the cells. For instance, if the inside of the cell is more negatively charged relative to...
DNA Isolation

