钼铁蛋白铁钼辅因子的有机组分对其功能的影响

棕色固氮菌(Azotobacter vinelandii)固氮酶的钼铁蛋白经邻菲啰啉在厌氧或有氧环境中处理后,变为 P-cluster 单一缺失或 P-cluster 和 FeMoco 同时缺失的失活钼铁蛋白。含柠檬酸盐或高柠檬酸盐的重组液都使这两种失活蛋白能恢复固氮酶重组的 H~ 和 C_2H_2还原活性,活性恢复程度随反映钼铁蛋白中金属原子簇含量变化的圆二色和磁圆二色谱及金属含量的恢复程度的提高而提高,但它们固 N_2能力的恢复程度则不相同:P-cluster 单一缺失的蛋白用两种重组液重组后均可恢复其固 N_2能力,而 P-cluster 和 FeMoco 同时缺失的蛋白,只有用含高柠檬酸盐的重组液重组才恢复其固 N_2能力,表明含不同有机组分的重组液所组装的 P-cluster 均与天然状态相同,只有含高柠檬酸盐的重组液所组装的 FeMoco 才与天然状态相同,从而证明高柠檬酸盐是 FeMoco 的必需的有机组分。     

Comparative Studies on Mn,Cr and Mo Contained Reconstituent Solutions and Proteins Reconstituted with Partially Metallocluster-deficient MoFe Protein

By treating the reduced MoFe protein from Azotobacter vinelandii with o-phenanthroline and O2, an inactive protein partially deficient in both FeMoco and P-cluster could be obtained. The inactive protein could be reactivated by the reconsfituent solutions of different colours which were prepared from mixture in different proportions of ferric homocitrate, Na2S and dithiothreitol (DTT) with K2CrO4, KMnO4 and Na2MoO4, respectively, the inactive protein could be somewhat reactivated by DTF but not by the other compounds or their mixtures which were deficient in one or two of the above compounds. 99Mo was found in the reconstituted protein of the inactive MoFe protein with a reconstituent solution containing 99Mo. Its measurement of differential perturbed angular correlation indicated that 41% of 99Mo in the reconstituted protein were in a state similar to that of 99Mo in 99MoFe protein from K. pneumoniae. The results showed that the reactivation of the inactive MoFe rotein was mainly based on the restoration of its metallocluster content. It seemed to be reasonable to postulate that Mn- or Cr-containing nitrogenase could be obtained likewise by the reconstitution of the inactive protein with the Mn- or Cr-containing reconstituent solution.     

The Relationship Between the Metal Clusters and the Conformation of Molybdenum-Iron Protein from Azotobacter vinelandii

The ultraviolet CD spectrum of nitrogenase MoFe protein from Azotobacter vinelandii had a negative trough with double peaks at 208 nm and 222 nm, respectively, and the shape of the trough was similar to those of other proteins with a-helix structure. After treatment with o-phenanthroline under an aerobic or anaerobic condition, the height of the peak at 222 nm (h222 nm) decreased with the decrease of the C2H2-reduction activity, Fe content and CD spectra at both 450 nm and 660 nm, or at 450 nm of the treated proteins. However, after reconstituting with a reconstituent solution containing Na2MoO4, Na2S, dithiothreitol and either ferric homocitrate or ferric citrate, the h222 nm Of the reconstituted proteins could be restored as well as the activity, Fe content and CD spectra at both of 450 nm and 660 nm. The results show that there is a significant relationship between the metal clusters (FeMoco and P-cluster) and the conformation of MoFe protein.     

The Effect of Manganese on the Reconstitution of Partial Metallocluster-deficient Nitrogenase Molybdenum-Iron Protein

By treating the reduced MoFe protein of nitrogenase from Azotobacter vinelandii with O-phenanthroline (O-phen) and O2, inactive MoFe protein which was partialy deficient in both P-cluster and FeMoco could be obtained. After incubating the inactive protein with a reconstituent solution containing KMnO4, ferric homocitrate, Na2S and dithiothreitol, a reconstituted protein could be obtained. The absorption spectrum and C2H2, H+ and N2 reduction activity of the reconstituted protein could be well restored to the state of the reduced MoFe protein. However, the α-helix and CD spectrum at 380—550 nm and at 620—670 nm of the reconstituted protein were somewhat different from those of the reduced MoFe protein. The results showed that: (1) the reconstituted protein was composed of the assembled protein which might be a MnFe protein due to the reconstitution of the metalloclusterdeficient MoFe protein with Mn-containing solution and MoFe protein in which metalloclusters were still intact after the treatment with O-phen and O2; (2) It might be possible that the MnFe protein and MoFe protein were similar in the ability of nitrogen fixation, but were somewhat different in the structure from each other.     

Reactivation of Partially Metallocluster-deficient MoFe Protein by Chromium-Containing Reconstituent Solution

By treating the reduced MoFe protein from Azotobacter vinelandii with o-phenanthroIi e and O2, partially deficient in both FeMoco and P-cluster and inactive protein could be o rained. After incubating the treated protein with a reconstituent solution containing K2CrO4, ferric homocitrate, Na2S and dithiothreitol, a reactivated protein could be obtained. The absorption spectrum, circular dichroism spectrum, and the C2H2 and proton reduction activities of the reactivated protein were remarkably recovered. However, the spectra were somewhat different from those of the reduced MoFe protein. The results showed that some of the reactivated protein might be Cr-containing protein (CrFe protein) which were similar in function, but somewhat different in structure from MoFe protein.     

含铬重组液激活部分缺失金属原子簇的钼铁蛋白的研究

棕色固氮菌（Ａｚｏｔｏｂａｃｔｅｒ ｖｉｎｅｌａｎｄｉｉ）固氮酶钼铁蛋白经邻菲口罗啉和Ｏ２ 处理后,变为部分缺失ＦｅＭｏｃｏ 和Ｐ－ｃｌｕｓｔｅｒ的失活蛋白。与由Ｋ２ＣｒＯ４、高柠檬酸铁、Ｎａ２Ｓ和二硫苏糖醇组成的重组液保温后,处理蛋白对乙炔和质子还原的活性都得以显著恢复;然而,它的吸收光谱和圆二色谱虽有明显恢复,但仍与还原钼铁蛋白有所不同。这表明,激活蛋白中也许存在功能与钼铁蛋白相似,而结构则有所差异的含铬（ＣｒＦｅ）蛋白     

含铼重组液对部分缺失金属原子簇的钼铁蛋白的激活作用

棕色固氮菌(AzotobactervinelandiiLipmann)固氮酶MoFe蛋白经邻菲啉和空气处理后,成为部分缺失P_cluster和FeMoco的失活蛋白。与由Re2O7、高柠檬酸铁、Na2S和二硫苏糖醇(DTT)组成的无圆二色(CD)谱信号的重组液保温后,保温蛋白对乙炔和质子还原的活性都得以显著恢复;紫外和可见光CD谱虽有明显恢复,但仍与还原MoFe蛋白有所差异。这表明:1)保温的蛋白液中除含有未被邻菲啉等处理而破坏的完整MoFe蛋白外,还可能存在新组装的含Re的固氮酶;2)新组装的ReFe蛋白和MoFe蛋白可能在固氮能力上相似,而在结构上有所差别     

Studies on Assembly of Vanadium-iron Protein in Vitro

By treating the reduced MoFe protein of nitrogenase from Azotobacter vinelandii with ophenanthroline under anaerobic or aerobic condition,inactive MoFe protein which was partialy deficient in both P-cluster and FeMoco could be obtained. After incubating the inactive MoFe protein with a reconstituent solution containing NaVO3,ferric homocitrate, Na2S and dithiothreitol, a reconstituted protein could be obtained. The proton reduction activity and absorption spectrum of the reconstituted protein could be well restored, but its C2H2-reduction activity could not be recovered. Its CD spectrum could be recovered except for the 550nm to 650nm region which differed from that of the reduced MoFe protein. The results showed that the reconstituted protein was different from MoFe protein,but was similar to vanadium-iron protein.     

Iron-molybdenum cofactor insertion into the Apo-MoFe protein of nitrogenase involves the iron protein-MgATP complex

Nitrogenase is composed of two component proteins, the iron protein (Fe protein) and the molybdenum-iron protein (MoFe protein). The Fe protein is a Mr 60,000 dimer of identical subunits with one bridging [4Fe-4S] center. It serves as a one-electron donor to the MoFe protein in a reaction that is coupled to MgATP hydrolysis. The MoFe protein is an alpha 2 beta 2 tetramer of Mr 220,000 which contains four [4Fe-4S] clusters and two iron-molybdenum cofactor (FeMo cofactor) centers. The exact structure of FeMo cofactor is not known, but it is believed to form the active site of the enzyme. Using specifically constructed deletion mutants of Azotobacter vinelandii, we have previously shown that the Fe protein, but not the MoFe protein, is required for FeMo cofactor biosynthesis (Robinson, A. C., Dean, D. R., and Burgess, B. K. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 14327-14332). During the partial purification of a FeMo cofactor-deficient form of the MoFe protein from one of these mutants (DJ54, delta nifH), we have discovered that, in addition to biosynthesis, the Fe protein-MgATP complex is involved in FeMo cofactor insertion into the MoFe protein. This insertion process is also sensitive to a number of other parameters (e.g. salt, pH, temperature, protein concentration). Based on our experimental data, we present a model for how this insertion reaction might take place, in which the Fe protein-MgATP complex binds the FeMo cofactor-deficient form of the MoFe protein and stabilizes a specific conformation of the MoFe protein that has the FeMo cofactor binding site exposed and available for coordination by preformed FeMo cofactor.     

Activation In Vitro of Mutant MoFe Proteins from Azotobacter vinelandii by Reconstituent Solutions

nifB-MoFe protein （nifB-Av1）, AnifE MoFe protein （△nifE Av1） and AnifZ MoFe protein （△nifZ Av1） were obtained by chromatography on DE52, Sephacryl S-300 and Q-Sepharose columns from nifB point-mutated, nifE deleted and nifZ deleted mutant stains （UW45, DJ35 and DJ194） of Azotobacter vinelandii Llpmann, respectively. When complemented with nltrogenase Fe protein （Av2）, AnifZ Av1 had partial activity and both nifB-Avl and △nifE Av1 had hardly any activity, but could be obviously activated by FeMoco extracted from wild-type MoFe protein （OP Av1） or △nifZ Av1. After being Incubated with excess O-phenanthrollne （O-phen） for 150 mln at 30 ℃ and subjected to chromatography on a Sephadex G-25 column In an Ar atmosphere, nifB- Av1C, △nifE Av1C and △nifZ Av1C were obtained, respectively. Based on a calculation of Fe atoms In the Ophen-Fe compound with ε 512nm = 11 100, lost Fe atoms of nifB-Av1, △nifE Av1 and △nifZ Av1 were estimated to be 1.35, 2.89 and 8.44 per molecule of protein, respectively. As a result of the Fe loss, △nifZ Av1 loses Its original activity. In the presence of both MgATP and Av2, these Fe-loslng proteins, but not the original proteins untreated with O-phen, could be significantly activated by reconstltuent solution （RS） composed of dlthlothreltol, ferric homocltrate, Na2S and Na2MoO4, or K2CrO4, or KMnO4. But In the absence of MgATP or Av2, the activation did not occur, with the exception that △nifZ AvlC was partially activated, and the activity was only 17%. These findings Indicate that： （I） △nifZ Avl with half P-cluster content Is somewhat different from FeMoco-deflclent nifB-Avl and ,△nifE Av1 with respect to protein conformation either before or after treatment with O-phen; （11） full activation of these proteins with RS requires pretreatment with O-phen and the simultaneous presence of MgATP and Av2.     

Reactivation of Partially Metallocluster deficient MoFe Protein by Rhenium-containing Reconstituent Solution

When the reduced MoFe protein from Azotobacter vinelandii Lipmann was treated with ophenanthroline and air, an inactive protein partially deficient in both FeMoco and P-cluster could be obtained. After incubating the treated protein with a reconstituent solution containing Re2OT, ferric homocitrate, Na2S and dithiothreitol, which had no circular dichroism (CD) signal, the ultraviolet and visible CD spectra, the C2H2 and H+ -reduction activity of the incubated protein were significantly recovered. However, the spectra were somewhat different from those of the reduced MoFe protein. The results showed that: 1) in the incubated protein solution there was possibly a new recombined ReFe protein besides the intact MoFe protein which was not destroyed by the treatment with o-phenanthroline and air; 2) it might be possible that both ReFe protein and MoFe protein exhibited similar ability of nitrogen fixation, although they were somewhat different in structure.     

Conformational differences between Azotobacter vinelandii nitrogenase MoFe proteins as studied by small-angle X-ray scattering

The nitrogenase MoFe protein is a heterotetramer containing two unique high-nuclearity metalloclusters, FeMoco and the P-cluster. FeMoco is assembled outside the MoFe protein, whereas the P-cluster is assembled directly on the MoFe protein polypeptides. MoFe proteins isolated from different genetic backgrounds have been analyzed using biochemical and spectroscopic techniques in attempting to elucidate the pathway of P-cluster biosynthesis. The DeltanifH MoFe protein is less stable than other MoFe proteins and has been shown by extended X-ray absorption fine structure studies to contain a variant P-cluster that most likely exists as two separate [Fe4S4]-like clusters instead of the subunit-bridging [Fe8S7] cluster found in the wild-type and DeltanifB forms of the MoFe protein [Corbett, M. C., et al. (2004) J. Biol. Chem. 279, 28276-28282]. Here, a combination of small-angle X-ray scattering and Fe chelation studies is used to show that there is a correlation between the state of the P-cluster and the conformation of the MoFe protein. The DeltanifH MoFe protein is found to be larger than the wild-type or DeltanifB MoFe proteins, an increase in size that can be modeled well by an opening of the subunit interface consistent with P-cluster fragmentation and solvent exposure. Importantly, this opening would allow for the insertion of P-cluster precursors into a region of the MoFe protein that is buried in the wild-type conformation. Thus, DeltanifH MoFe protein could represent an early intermediate in MoFe protein biosynthesis where the P-cluster precursors have been inserted, but P-cluster condensation and tetramer stabilization have yet to occur.     

Complex formation and O2 sensitivity of Azotobacter vinelandii nitrogenase and its component proteins

The O2 stability of the MoFe protein, the Fe protein, a 1:1 mixture of these proteins, and a 1:1 mixture in the presence of the Azotobacter vinelandii FeS-II protein has been studied as a function of time under controlled O2 partial pressures. The Fe protein is much more sensitive to O2 exposure than is the MoFe protein. The presence of the FeS-II protein at a 1:1 ratio with the component proteins measurably increases the O2 stability of the MoFe and Fe proteins. O2 inactivation of the MoFe protein was studied in some detail and found to be quite complex. At least three partially overlapping reactions are suggested. The first is the reversible oxidation of the metal clusters of the MoFe protein to the combined extent of 12 electrons with full retention of activity. The second phase consists primarily of activity loss with little increase in the extent of reversible oxidation. The third phase continues to decrease the protein activity but is also accompanied by formation of a g = 2.0 EPR signal and more extensive oxidation. Ultracentrifugation studies of the FeS-II protein at a 1:1:1 ratio with the Fe and MoFe proteins do not support the formation of the Bulen complex. The formation of other O2-stable complexes is discussed.     

光谱技术研究固氮酶铁硫簇的理化特性

Ｎ－甲基甲酰胺碱度是提取高质量固氮酶铁钼辅基的关键因素之一。过量的亚甲蓝能氧化并分解铁铜铺基为含双相铁硫簇和铁硫簇固氮酶铁钼辅基和在紫外可见光谱区中均无特征吸收峰,而在３２０ｎｍ处却呈弱吸收峰,棕色固氮菌固氮酶和该菌的突变菌侏ＵＷ４５固氮酶（缺铁钼辅基）中的非含钼的铁硫簇在紫外可见光谱区３２０ｎｍ和４０５ｎｍ处均含有特征吸收峰．     

Comparison of iron-molybdenum cofactor-deficient nitrogenase MoFe proteins by X-ray absorption spectroscopy: implications for P-cluster biosynthesis

Nitrogenase, the enzyme system responsible for biological nitrogen fixation, is believed to utilize two unique metalloclusters in catalysis. There is considerable interest in understanding how these metalloclusters are assembled in vivo. It has been presumed that immature iron-molybdenum cofactor-deficient nitrogenase MoFe proteins contain the P-cluster, although no biosynthetic pathway for the assembly of this complex cluster has been identified as yet. Through the comparison by iron K-edge x-ray absorption edge and extended fine structure analyses of cofactor-deficient MoFe proteins resulting from nifH and nifB deletion strains of Azotobacter vinelandii, a novel [Fe-S] cluster is identified in the DeltanifH MoFe protein. The iron-iron scattering displayed by the DeltanifH MoFe protein is more similar to that of a standard [Fe(4)S(4)]-containing protein than that of the DeltanifB MoFe protein, which is shown to contain a "normal" P-cluster. The iron-sulfur scattering of the DeltanifH MoFe protein, however, indicates differences in its cluster from an [Fe(4)S(4)](Cys)(4) site that may be consistent with the presence of either oxygenic or nitrogenic ligation. Based on these results, models for the [Fe-S] center in the DeltanifH MoFe protein are constructed, the most likely of which consist of two separate [Fe(4)S(4)] sites, each with some non-cysteinyl coordination. This type of model suggests that the P-cluster is formed by the condensation of two [Fe(4)S(4)] fragments, possibly concomitant with Fe protein (NifH)-induced conformational change.     

The vanadium-containing nitrogenase of Azotobacter

Fifty years after a role of vanadium in biological fixation was proposed, it was shown that in addition to their well-characterized molybdendum nitrogenases, Azotobacter chroococcum and Azotobacter vinelandii both have a genetically distinct nitrogenase system in which the conventional molybdoprotein is replaced by a vanadoprotein. Both Mo-nitrogenases and V-nitrogenases have similar requirements for activity: MgATP, a low potential reductant and the absence of oxygen. The genes encoding the V-nitrogenase are expressed only under conditions of Mo-deficiency. V-Nitrogenase of A.chroococcum is made up of a tetrameric VFe protein (Mr 210,000) with an alpha 2 beta 2 structure containing two V atoms, 23 Fe atoms and 20 acid-labile sulphide atoms per tetramer, and a dimeric Fe protein (Mr 64,000) with a gamma 2 structure containing four Fe atoms and four acid-labile sulphide atoms per dimer. Vanadium K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy indicates that V in the VFe protein, like Mo in MoFe protein, has S, Fe and possibly O as nearest neighbours. A vanadium- and iron-containing cofactor (FeVaco) can be extracted from the VFe protein and will restore C2H2 reductase, but no nitrogenase activity, to the inactive MoFe protein accumulated by mutants unable to synthesize the molybdenum- and iron-containing co-factor of Mo-nitrogenase. The products of C2H2 reduction by the hybrid protein (C2H6 as well as C2H4) are a characteristic of the VFe protein and provide evidence that FeVaco is, or forms part of the active site of V-nitrogenase.     

Characterization of Azotobacter vinelandii nifZ deletion strains. Indication of stepwise MoFe protein assembly

The nifZ gene product (NifZ) of Azotobacter vinelandii has been implicated in MoFe protein maturation. However, its exact function in this process remains largely unknown. Here, we report a detailed biochemical/biophysical characterization of His-tagged MoFe proteins purified from A. vinelandii nifZ and nifZ/nifB deletion strains DJ1182 and YM6A (Delta nifZ and Delta nifZ Delta nifB MoFe proteins, respectively). Our data from EPR, metal, activity, and stability analyses indicate that one alpha beta subunit pair of the Delta nifZ MoFe protein contains a P cluster ([8Fe-7S]) and an iron-molybdenum cofactor (FeMoco) ([Mo-7Fe-9S-X-homocitrate]), whereas the other contains a presumed P cluster precursor, possibly comprising a pair of [4Fe-4S]-like clusters, and a vacant FeMoco site. Likewise, the Delta nifZ Delta nifB MoFe protein has the same composition as the Delta nifZ MoFe protein except for the absence of FeMoco, an effect caused by the deletion of the nifB gene. These results suggest that the MoFe protein is likely assembled stepwise, i.e. one alpha beta subunit pair of the tetrameric MoFe protein is assembled prior to the other, and that NifZ might act as a chaperone in the assembly of the second alpha beta subunit pair by facilitating a conformational rearrangement that is required for the formation of the P cluster through the condensation of two [4Fe-4S]-like clusters. The possibility of NifZ exercising its effect through the Fe protein was ruled out because the Fe proteins from nifZ and nifZ/nifB deletion strains are not defective in their normal functions. However, the detailed mechanism of how NifZ carries out its exact function in MoFe protein maturation awaits further investigation.     

Evidence for the selective population of FeMo cofactor sites in MoFe protein and its molecular recognition by the Fe protein in transition state complex analogues of nitrogenase

We have collected synchrotron x-ray solution scattering data for the MoFe protein of Klebsiella pneumoniae nitrogenase and show that the molecular conformation of the protein that contains only one molybdenum per alpha(2)beta(2) tetramer is different from that of the protein that has full occupancy i.e. two molybdenums per molecule. This structural finding is consistent with the existence of MoFe protein molecules that contain only one FeMo cofactor site occupied and provides a rationale for the 50% loss of the specific activity of such preparations. A stable inactive transition state complex has been shown to form in the presence of MgADP and AlF(4)(-). Gel filtration chromatography data show that the MoFe protein lacking a full complement of the cofactor forms initially a 1:1 complex before forming a low affinity 1:2 complex. A similar behavior is found for the MoFe protein with both cofactors occupied, but the high affinity 1:2 complex is formed at a lower ratio of Fe protein/MoFe protein. The 1:1 complex, MoFe protein-Fe protein x (ADP x AlF(4)(-))(2), formed with MoFe protein that lacks one of the cofactors, is stable. X-ray scattering studies of this complex have enabled us to obtain its low resolution structure at approximately 20-A resolution, which confirms the gel filtration finding that only one molecule of the Fe protein binds the MoFe protein. By comparison with the low resolution structure of purified MoFe protein that contains only one molybdenum per tetramer, we deduce that the Fe protein interacts with the FeMo cofactor-binding alpha-subunit of the MoFe protein. This observation demonstrates that the conformation of the alpha-subunit or the alpha beta subunit pair that lacks the FeMo cofactor is altered and that the change is recognized by the Fe protein. The structure of the 1:1 complex reveals a similar change in the conformation of the Fe protein as has been observed in the low resolution scattering mask and the high resolution crystallographic study of the 1:2 complex where both cofactors are occupied and with the Fe protein bound to both subunits. This extensive conformational change observed for the Fe protein in the complexes is, however, not observed when MgATP or MgADP binds to the isolated Fe protein. Thus, the large scale conformational change of the Fe protein is associated with the complex formation of the two proteins.     

Modulating the midpoint potential of the [4Fe-4S] cluster of the nitrogenase Fe protein

Protein-bound [FeS] clusters function widely in biological electron-transfer reactions, where their midpoint potentials control both the kinetics and thermodynamics of these reactions. The polarity of the protein environment around [FeS] clusters appears to contribute largely to modulating their midpoint potentials, with local protein dipoles and water dipoles largely defining the polarity. The function of the [4Fe-4S] cluster containing Fe protein in nitrogenase catalysis is, at least in part, to serve as the nucleotide-dependent electron donor to the MoFe protein which contains the sites for substrate binding and reduction. The ability of the Fe protein to function in this manner is dependent on its ability to adopt the appropriate conformation for productive interaction with the MoFe protein and on its ability to change redox potentials to provide the driving force required for electron transfer. Phenylalanine at position 135 is located near the [4Fe-4S] cluster of nitrogenase Fe protein and has been suggested by amino acid substitution studies to participate in defining both the midpoint potential and the nucleotide-induced changes in the [4Fe-4S] cluster. In the present study, the crystal structure of the Azotobacter vinelandii nitrogenase Fe protein variant having phenylalanine at position 135 substituted by tryptophan has been determined by X-ray diffraction methods and refined to 2.4 A resolution. A comparison of available Fe protein structures not only provides a structural basis for the more positive midpoint potential observed in the tryptophan substituted variant but also suggests a possible general mechanism by which the midpoint potential could be controlled by nucleotide interactions and nitrogenase complex formation.     

Characteristics and Crystallization of Nitrogenase MoFe Protein from a nif Z Deleted Strain of Azotobacter vinelandii

△nifZ MoFe protein purified from a nifZ deleted strain of Azotobacter vinelandii (DJ194) was shown to be pure by SDS-Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The protein contained 1.5 Mo atoms and 15.9 Fe atoms per molecule, the ratio of Fe to Mo was lower than that of the MoFe protein purified from the wild type strain of A. vinelandii; and Call2, H+ -reduction activity and their ratio (C2H4/H2 (Ar)) were 16.6%, 21.7% and 77.2% of those of the wild type MoFe protein, respectively. Under a somewhat different condition from that for the crystallization of the wild type MoFe protein dark brown rhombohedron crystals of △nifZ MoFe protein were obtained. It indicated that the deletion of the △nif Z resulted in the decrease of number or change in the structure of P-cluster in the mutant MoFe protein, which caused the significant structured and function of change of the protein.