Interpretation of the Mössbauer spectra of the four-iron ferredoxin from Bacillus stearothermophilus.

The Mössbauer spectra of both oxidized and reduced ferredoxin from Bacillus stearothermophilus have been analysed using computer fits to theoretical spectra obtained from a spin Hamiltonian. A consistent set of parameters was obtained from fits to spectra obtained over a wide range of temperature and magnetic field. These results are interpreted in terms of a model for the active centre which is consistent with its electronic and magnetic properties in both redox states. In the model for the oxidized centre all four iron atoms have essentially the same valence, intermediate between ferric and ferrous, with one pair spin-up and the other pair spin-down. On reduction the extra electron goes predominantly to one pair of iron atoms which become ferrous with the other pair remaining substantially unchanged. Using this model it is possible to obtain relationships between the spin Hamiltonian parameters for individual iron atoms and those for the coupled centre. This can give further insight into the relation between the observed electron paramagnetic resonance and Mössbauer spectra.