HYDROLYSIS OF ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATE BY PURIFIED COMPONENTS OF NITROGENASE

The hydrolysis of adenosine triphosphate requires both purified components of the N2-reducing system (nitrogenase): molybdoferredoxin and azoferredoxin. At low pH, the high rate of hydrolysis is not affected by the electron donor dithionite. This shows that adenosine triphosphate hydrolysis by nitrogenase does not require a source of electrons. Evidence is also presented to suggest that even though the N2- reducing unit and the adenosine triphosphate hydrolyzing unit are constructed with the same two protein components, these units do not contain an identical number of component molecules. © 1969, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.