What triggers the coupling of proton transfer and electron transfer at the active site of nitrogenase?

Abstract

In converting N₂ to NH₃ the enzyme nitrogenase utilises 8 electrons and 8 protons in the complete catalytic cycle. The source of the electrons is an Fe₄S₄ reductase protein (Fe-protein) which temporarily docks with the MoFe-protein that contains the catalytic active cofactor, FeMo-co, and an electron transfer cluster called the P cluster. The overall mechanism involves 8 repetitions of a cycle in which reduced Fe-protein docks with the MoFe-protein, one electron transfers to the P-cluster, and then to FeMo-co, followed by dissociation of the two proteins and re-reduction of the Fe-protein. Protons are supplied serially to FeMo-co by a Grotthuss proton translocation mechanism from the protein surface along a conserved chain of water molecules (a proton wire) that terminates near S atoms of the FeMo-co cluster [CFe₇S₉Mo(homocitrate)] where the multiple steps of the chemical conversions are effected. It is assumed that the chemical mechanisms use proton-coupled electron-transfer (PCET) and that H atoms (e⁻ + H⁺) are involved in each of the hydrogenation steps. However there is neither evidence for, or mechanism proposed, for this coupling. Here I report calculations of cluster charge distribution upon electron addition, revealing that the added negative charge is on the S atoms of FeMo-co, which thereby become more basic, and able to trigger proton transfer from H₃O⁺ waiting at the near end of the proton wire. This mechanism is supported by calculations of the dynamics of the proton transfer step, in which the barrier is reduced by ca. 3.5 kcal mol⁻¹ and the product stabilised by ca. 7 kcal mol⁻¹ upon electron addition. H tunneling is probable in this step. In nitrogenase it is electron transfer that triggers proton transfer.