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Quantum Mechanical Calculations of Redox Potentials of the Metal Clusters in Nitrogenase

Jiang, Hao LU orcid ; Svensson, Oskar K. G. LU and Ryde, Ulf LU orcid (2023) In Molecules 28(1).
Abstract
We have calculated redox potentials of the two metal clusters in Mo-nitrogenase with quantum mechanical (QM) calculations. We employ an approach calibrated for iron–sulfur clusters with 1–4 Fe ions, involving QM-cluster calculations in continuum solvent and large QM systems (400–500 atoms), based on structures from combined QM and molecular mechanics (QM/MM) geometry optimisations. Calculations on the P-cluster show that we can reproduce the experimental redox potentials within 0.33 V. This is similar to the accuracy obtained for the smaller clusters, although two of the redox reactions involve also proton transfer. The calculated P1+/PN redox potential is nearly the same independently of whether P1+ is... (More)
We have calculated redox potentials of the two metal clusters in Mo-nitrogenase with quantum mechanical (QM) calculations. We employ an approach calibrated for iron–sulfur clusters with 1–4 Fe ions, involving QM-cluster calculations in continuum solvent and large QM systems (400–500 atoms), based on structures from combined QM and molecular mechanics (QM/MM) geometry optimisations. Calculations on the P-cluster show that we can reproduce the experimental redox potentials within 0.33 V. This is similar to the accuracy obtained for the smaller clusters, although two of the redox reactions involve also proton transfer. The calculated P1+/PN redox potential is nearly the same independently of whether P1+ is protonated or deprotonated, explaining why redox titrations do not show any pH dependence. For the FeMo cluster, the calculations clearly show that the formal oxidation state of the cluster in the resting E0 state is MoIIIFeII3FeIII4, in agreement with previous experimental studies and QM calculations. Moreover, the redox potentials of the first five E0–E4 states are nearly constant, as is expected if the electrons are delivered by the same site (the P-cluster). However, the redox potentials are insensitive to the formal oxidation states of the Fe ion (i.e., whether the added protons bind to sulfide or Fe ions). Finally, we show that the later (E4–E8) states of the reaction mechanism have redox potential that are more positive (i.e., more exothermic) than that of the E0/E1 couple. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
nitrogenase, redox potential, formal oxidation states, FeMo cluster, P-cluster
in
Molecules
volume
28
issue
1
article number
65
pages
16 pages
publisher
MDPI AG
external identifiers
  • scopus:85145696816
  • pmid:36615260
ISSN
1420-3049
DOI
10.3390/molecules28010065
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
242e35da-e327-4f3c-a808-c75495d29d10
date added to LUP
2022-12-22 10:40:56
date last changed
2023-04-06 04:15:32
@article{242e35da-e327-4f3c-a808-c75495d29d10,
  abstract     = {{We have calculated redox potentials of the two metal clusters in Mo-nitrogenase with quantum mechanical (QM) calculations. We employ an approach calibrated for iron–sulfur clusters with 1–4 Fe ions, involving QM-cluster calculations in continuum solvent and large QM systems (400–500 atoms), based on structures from combined QM and molecular mechanics (QM/MM) geometry optimisations. Calculations on the P-cluster show that we can reproduce the experimental redox potentials within 0.33 V. This is similar to the accuracy obtained for the smaller clusters, although two of the redox reactions involve also proton transfer. The calculated P<sup>1+</sup>/P<sup>N</sup> redox potential is nearly the same independently of whether P<sup>1+</sup> is protonated or deprotonated, explaining why redox titrations do not show any pH dependence. For the FeMo cluster, the calculations clearly show that the formal oxidation state of the cluster in the resting E<sub>0</sub> state is MoIIIFeII3FeIII4, in agreement with previous experimental studies and QM calculations. Moreover, the redox potentials of the first five E<sub>0</sub>–E<sub>4</sub> states are nearly constant, as is expected if the electrons are delivered by the same site (the P-cluster). However, the redox potentials are insensitive to the formal oxidation states of the Fe ion (i.e., whether the added protons bind to sulfide or Fe ions). Finally, we show that the later (E<sub>4</sub>–E<sub>8</sub>) states of the reaction mechanism have redox potential that are more positive (i.e., more exothermic) than that of the E<sub>0</sub>/E<sub>1</sub> couple.}},
  author       = {{Jiang, Hao and Svensson, Oskar K. G. and Ryde, Ulf}},
  issn         = {{1420-3049}},
  keywords     = {{nitrogenase; redox potential; formal oxidation states; FeMo cluster; P-cluster}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{MDPI AG}},
  series       = {{Molecules}},
  title        = {{Quantum Mechanical Calculations of Redox Potentials of the Metal Clusters in Nitrogenase}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules28010065}},
  doi          = {{10.3390/molecules28010065}},
  volume       = {{28}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}