Nitrogenase and Nitrous Oxide Reductase:<br/>Biomolecular Engineering of Complex Redox Enzymes

Objective

"Nitrogenase and nitrous oxide reductase are complex metalloenzymes that are highly sensitive to dioxygen. They catalyze economically and ecologically important chemistry, but their function is not understood in full detail. We propose to analyze the mechanisms of these enzymes and elucidate the complex biogenesis of their intricate metal cofactors, the FeMo cofactor and the CuZ site, respectively. To this end we will combine protein biochemistry under anoxic conditions with the systematic, stepwise re-assembly of the structural genes and maturation factors of nitrogenase and nitrous oxide reductase into a heterologous expression system in Escherichia coli as a host system with a facultatively anaerobic lifestyle.
This approach combines the principles of protein biochemistry and synthetic biology and aims at conveying the catalytic capacities of nitrogenase and nitrous oxide reductase to a new host. Once recombinant proteins can be produced we will use directed evolution under a selection conditions of dioxygen stress to increase the oxygen-tolerance of the enzymes and extend the usability of the expression plasmids. With nitrogenase, we will then aim at transferring the ability to fix dinitrogen to eukaryotic hosts and will start with the well-established Pichia pastoris. As a long-term goal, the expression of nitrogenase in plant cells will provide the basis for a new era of green biotechnology that does not rely on chemical nitrogen fertilization."

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.

• natural sciences biological sciences synthetic biology
• natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

• FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

• ERC-SG-LS9 - ERC Starting Grant - Applied life sciences and biotechnology

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

ERC-2012-StG_20111109
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Funding Scheme

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ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant

Host institution

Beneficiaries (1)