Ribbe, ed., Markus W.

Evolving a New Electron Transfer Pathway for Nitrogen Fixation Uncovers an Electron Bifurcating-Like Enzyme Involved in Anaerobic Aromatic Compound Degradation

There is increasing evidence that protein electron carriers like Fd evolved to form specific partnerships with select electron donors and acceptors to keep native electron transfer pathways insulated from one another. This makes it challenging to integrate a Fd-dependent pathway such as biological nitrogen fixation into non-nitrogen-fixing organisms and provide the high-energy reducing power needed to fix nitrogen.