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Catalytic Nickel–Iron–Sulfur Clusters: From Minerals to Enzymes

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Book cover Bioorganometallic Chemistry

Part of the book series: Topics in Organometallic Chemistry ((TOPORGAN,volume 17))

Abstract

The geochemical theory of the origin of life proposes that primordial, pre-biotic reactions were carried out in a metal-sulfide-rich environment similar to that found near hot springs at the ocean floor. Many contemporary experiments have shown that reactions reminiscent of those carried by extant anaerobic microorganisms involving gases such as CO, CO2 and H2, can indeed take place abiotically in the presence of iron and nickel sulfides. Here we discuss some of these reactions and compare them to those catalyzed by NiFeS-containing enzymes. In addition, we compare three NiFeS active sites and their protein environment and show that they share a significant number of structural features. We also comment on possible catalytic mechanisms.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Siem Albracht, Patricia Amara, Bart Faber, Christine Cavazza, Marie-Hélène Charon, Claudine Darnault, Victor Fernandez, Martin Field, Michel Frey, Elsa Garcin, Claude Hatchikian, Eun Jin Kim, Antonio de Lacey, Pierre Legrand, Paul Lindahl, Lydie Martin, Michael Matho, Yaël Montet, Yvain Nicolet, Marc Rousset, Winfried Roseboom and Xavier Vernède for their important contributions to our studies of NiFeS clusters in enzymes, and Michael Russell for the stimulating discussions on pre-life conditions and non-biological carbon fixation.

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  1. Laboratoire de Cristallographie et de Cristallogenèse des Protéines, Institut de Biologie Structurale J.P. Ebel (CEA-CNRS-UJF), 41 rue Jules Horowitz, 38027, Grenoble Cédex 1, France

    Anne Volbeda & Juan C. Fontecilla-Camps

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  1. Anne Volbeda
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  2. Juan C. Fontecilla-Camps
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Correspondence to Juan C. Fontecilla-Camps .

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Gérard Simonneaux

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Volbeda, A., Fontecilla-Camps, J.C. Catalytic Nickel–Iron–Sulfur Clusters: From Minerals to Enzymes. In: Simonneaux, G. (eds) Bioorganometallic Chemistry. Topics in Organometallic Chemistry, vol 17. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3418_003

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