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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2016
Light- driven CO2 reduction in a photosynthetic bacterium research published in Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.  
​News.
Article here.
Scientific American Story.
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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