Enzymes are nature’s catalysts, and the enzymes which catalyze the most challenging reactions in all of biochemistry (nitrogen fixation, water oxidation, C-H activation) frequently use transition metals to achieve this chemistry. In the joint lab of Marty Bollinger and Carsten Krebs, spectroscopy and kinetics are used in tandem to elucidate the mechanisms of metalloenzymes which use iron and molecular oxygen to catalyze a variety of interesting reactions. The Bollinger-Krebs group collaborates extensively, both with the other bioinorganic groups at Penn State and groups from other universities.
