Nitrogenase
Nitrogenase is an enzyme that is produced by certain microorganisms, such as bacteria and archaea. This enzyme is responsible for the conversion of nitrogen gas (N2) into ammonia (NH3), a process known as nitrogen fixation. Nitrogenase is a complex enzyme that requires a significant amount of energy to function, and it is sensitive to the presence of oxygen.
Structure[edit | edit source]
Nitrogenase is composed of two proteins: the dinitrogenase reductase (Fe protein) and the dinitrogenase (MoFe protein). The Fe protein is a homodimer with an ATP-binding site and a [4Fe-4S] cluster. The MoFe protein is a heterotetramer that contains two types of metal clusters: the P-cluster and the FeMo-cofactor.
Function[edit | edit source]
The primary function of nitrogenase is to catalyze the reduction of nitrogen (N2) to ammonia (NH3). This process is critical for life on Earth, as nitrogen is a key component of amino acids, proteins, and nucleic acids. However, most organisms cannot use atmospheric nitrogen directly and rely on nitrogenase to convert it into a usable form.
Mechanism[edit | edit source]
The mechanism of nitrogenase is complex and not fully understood. However, it is known that the reaction requires a significant amount of energy, which is provided by the hydrolysis of ATP. The reaction also involves the transfer of electrons from the Fe protein to the MoFe protein.
Regulation[edit | edit source]
The activity of nitrogenase is tightly regulated by the cell. The enzyme is sensitive to oxygen, which can damage its metal clusters. Therefore, nitrogen-fixing organisms have developed various strategies to protect nitrogenase from oxygen, such as producing the enzyme in specialized cells or compartments that are devoid of oxygen.
See also[edit | edit source]
Nitrogenase Resources | ||
---|---|---|
|
|
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD