Nitrogenase: The Catalysis

Abstract

A casual examination of the nitrogenase reaction scheme (Fig. 4-5) shows that it describes two relatively distinct functions, one involving the sequence

$$ATP + reductant\xrightarrow[{Active sites for reductant and ATP}]{{{{M}^{{2 + }}}}}ADP + {{P}_{i}} + {{e}^{ - }}$$

and the other involving a reaction with N₂ or a similar reducible substrate, as

$${{N}_{2}} + {{e}^{ - }} + {{H}_{3}}{{O}^{ + }}\xrightarrow[{Active site for reducible substrate}]{}N{{H}_{3}}$$