Abstract: Nitrogenase is a metalloprotein complex that catalyses the reaction of biological nitrogen fixation. At least three genetically distinct nitrogenase systems have been confirmed in diazotrophs, namely Nif, Vnf, and Anf, in which the active-site central metals are Mo, V, and Fe, respectively. The present review summarizes progress on the genetic, structural, and functional investigations into the three nitrogenases and discusses the possibility of the existence of other novel nitrogenases.(Author for correspondence.Tel: +86 010 6283 6219; Fax: +86 010 6259 0833; E-mail: jfhuang@ibcas.ac. cn)

Key words: diazotroph, FeMo-cofactor and cofactors substituted for Mo, nitrogenase system, P-cluster.