NAI
2012 Annual Science Report
Montana State University
Reporting | SEP 2011 – AUG 2012
Radical SAM Chemistry and Biological Ligand Accelerated Catalysis
Project Summary
Iron sulfur (FeS) clusters are thought to be among the most ancient cofactors in living systems. The FeS enzyme thrust is focused on examining the structure, mechanism, and biosynthesis of the complex FeS enzymes nitrogenase and hydrogenase. Exciting recent results have identified important links between the biosynthesis of the H-cluster and FeMo-co and have outlined a new paradigm for the biosynthesis of complex FeS clusters. The observations made have provided direct links to the evolution of FeS biocatalysts from their mineral-based precursors.
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Institutions
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Teams
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Publications
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Field Sites
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PROJECT INVESTIGATORS:
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PROJECT MEMBERS:
John Peters
Co-Investigator
Robert Szilagyi
Co-Investigator
Alexios Grigoropoulos
Postdoc
Eric Shepard
Postdoc
Nicholas Boswell
Doctoral Student
Ben Duffus
Doctoral Student
Shourjo Ghose
Doctoral Student
Travis Harris
Doctoral Student
Shawn McGlynn
Doctoral Student
Neelambari Joshi
Graduate Student
Alta Howells
Undergraduate Student
Amanda Byer
Unspecified Role
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RELATED OBJECTIVES:
Objective 3.1
Sources of prebiotic materials and catalysts
Objective 3.2
Origins and evolution of functional biomolecules
Objective 3.3
Origins of energy transduction
Objective 7.1
Biosignatures to be sought in Solar System materials
Objective 7.2
Biosignatures to be sought in nearby planetary systems
