Lance C. Seefeldt

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Nitrogenase: Reduction of N2

The availability of the element N is essential to all life.  We are working to reveal the mechanism for how the bacterial enzyme nitrogenase achieves the conversion of dinitrogen (N2) in air to the usable molecule ammonia (NH3). One goal of our research is to understand how N2 binds and is reduced to NH3.  Recent progress has revealed a central role for metal-hydrides bound to the active site metal cluster called FeMo-cofactor.  

Nitrogenase: Electron Transfer and ATP

 Another aspect of our research is to understand how electrons flow to nitrogenase and the roles of ATP hydrolysis in the mechanism.  Recent progress has established the order of electron transfer and ATP hydrolysis and developed methods for delivery of electrons using light driven nano materials and electrodes.

​News
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2017
USU part of NASA Space Technology Research Institute.  
News Release
​USU Today
2017
USU teams with the Natl. Renewable Energy Lab, Univ. of Colorado, and Washington State Univ. on light-driven dinitrogen reduction project using nano particles and nitrogenase.
2017
USU partners with Virginia Tech to examine the  nitrogenase mechanism for N2 reduction with funding from the Dept. of Energy, Basic Energy Sciences.
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​​2016
​​Research on light-driven N2 reduction by a CdS:MoFe protein hybrid published in Science.  
​Featured in C&E News.  ​
Story on Utah Public Radio here.
Utah State Today story. 
2015
Department of Energy, Energy Frontiers Research Center (EFRC) DOE, News, BETSy Web site. 
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