Nitrogenase Bioelectrocatalysis

Nitrogenase is the only enzyme capable of nitrogen reduction to ammonia. This talk will discuss cobaltocene and methyl viologen mediation schemes for MoFe and VFe nitrogenase, as well as strategies for nitrogenase bioelectrocatalysis in air. Bioelectrocatalysis of proton reduction, azide reduction, nitrite reduction, nitrogen reduction, and carbon dioxide reduction by MoFe and VFe nitrogenase will be shown. These preliminary data showed the many applications of nitrogenase bioelectrocatalysis, but to be technologically useful, direct bioelectrocatalysis is needed. This talk will discuss the design and synthesis of a pyrene modified linear polyethylenimine and its use for MoFe, VFe and FeFe nitrogenase bioelectrocatalysis. This direct bioelectrocatalysis has allowed us to mechanistically study nitrogenases in more detail.