Carbamoylphosphate requirement for synthesis of the active center of [NiFe]-hydrogenases

The iron of the binuclear active center of [NiFe]-hydrogenases carries two CN and one CO ligands which are thought to confer to the metal a low oxidat ion and/or spin state essential for activity. Based on the observation that one of the seven auxiliary proteins required for the synthesis and inserti on of the [NiFe] cluster contains a sequence motif characteristic of O-carb amoyl-transferases it was discovered that carbamoyl phosphate is essential for formation of active [NiFe]-hydrogenases in vivo and is specifically req uired for metal center synthesis suggesting that it is the source of the CO and CN ligands, A chemical path for conversion of a carbamoyl group into c yano and carbonyl moieties is postulated. (C) 2001 Federation of European B iochemical Societies, Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserve d.