The Conversion of Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide by Nitrogenases.

ABSTRACT: Nitrogenases are the only known family of enzymes that catalyze the reduction of molecular nitrogen (N₂ ) to ammonia (NH₃ ). The N₂ reduction drives biological nitrogen fixation and the global nitrogen cycle. Besides the conversion of N₂ , nitrogenases catalyze a whole range of other reductions, including the reduction of the small gaseous substrates carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂ ) to hydrocarbons. However, it remains an open question whether these 'side reactivities' play a role under environmental conditions. Nonetheless, these reactivities and particularly the formation of hydrocarbons have spurred the interest in nitrogenases for biotechnological applications. There are three different isozymes of nitrogenase: the molybdenum and the alternative vanadium and iron-only nitrogenase. The isozymes differ in their metal content, structure, and substrate-dependent activity, despite their homology. This minireview focuses on the conversion of CO and CO₂ to methane and higher hydrocarbons and aims to specify the differences in activity between the three nitrogenase isozymes.

SUBMITTER: Oehlmann NN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9298215 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature