An EPR and VTVH MCD spectroscopic investigation of the nitrogenase assembly protein NifB.

NifB, a radical SAM enzyme, catalyzes the biosynthesis of the L cluster (Fe8S9C), a structural homolog and precursor to the nitrogenase active-site M cluster ([MoFe7S9C·R-homocitrate]). Sequence analysis shows that NifB contains the CxxCxxxC motif that is typically associated with the radical SAM cluster ([Fe4S4]SAM) involved in the binding of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM). In addition, NifB houses two transient [Fe4S4] clusters (K cluster) that can be fused into an 8Fe L cluster concomitant with the incorporation of an interstitial carbide ion, which is achieved through radical SAM chemistry initiated at the [Fe4S4]SAM cluster upon its interaction with SAM. Here, we report a VTVH MCD/EPR spectroscopic study of the L cluster biosynthesis on NifB, which focuses on the initial interaction of SAM with [Fe4S4]SAM in a variant NifB protein (MaNifBSAM) containing only the [Fe4S4]SAM cluster and no K cluster. Titration of MaNifBSAM with SAM reveals that [Fe4S4]SAM exists in two forms, labeled [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. It is proposed that these forms are involved in the synthesis of the L cluster. Of the two cluster types, only [Formula: see text] initially interacts with SAM, resulting in the generation of Z, an S = ½ paramagnetic [Fe4S4]SAM/SAM complex.