NITROGENASE Meaning and
Definition
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Nitrogenase is an enzyme complex found in certain nitrogen-fixing bacteria and archaea that enables them to carry out the biological process of nitrogen fixation. This complex is responsible for converting atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into a form that can be utilized by living organisms, such as ammonia (NH3) or ammonium (NH4+).
The nitrogenase enzyme complex consists of several protein components, including the Fe protein and the MoFe protein, which work together to catalyze the reduction of nitrogen. The Fe protein, also known as the dinitrogenase reductase, accepts electrons from a reductant molecule and transfers them to the MoFe protein.
The MoFe protein, or dinitrogenase, houses the active site where the nitrogen reduction reaction occurs. It contains iron (Fe), molybdenum (Mo), and other metal cofactors that are essential for its function. The MoFe protein binds and reduces nitrogen, allowing it to combine with hydrogen to form ammonia or ammonium.
Nitrogenase operates under anaerobic conditions because oxygen is a potent inhibitor of its activity. The enzyme is highly sensitive to even trace amounts of oxygen, which can irreversibly damage its active site.
The process of nitrogen fixation is crucial for the global nitrogen cycle and the availability of nitrogen for plant growth. Nitrogenase facilitates the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into a biologically accessible form, which can be assimilated by plants and other organisms. It plays a critical role in the sustenance of nitrogen balance in ecosystems and agriculture.
Common Misspellings for NITROGENASE
- bitrogenase
- mitrogenase
- jitrogenase
- hitrogenase
- nutrogenase
- njtrogenase
- nktrogenase
- notrogenase
- n9trogenase
- n8trogenase
- nirrogenase
- nifrogenase
- nigrogenase
- niyrogenase
- ni6rogenase
- ni5rogenase
- niteogenase
- nitdogenase
- nitfogenase
Etymology of NITROGENASE
The word "nitrogenase" is derived from two components: "nitrogen" and "ase".
1. Nitrogen: The word "nitrogen" comes from the French word "nitrogène", which was coined by French chemist Jean-Antoine Chaptal in 1790. It is a combination of the Latin word "nitrum", meaning "native soda" or "niter", and the Greek word "gennan", meaning "to produce". Nitrogen is a chemical element represented by the symbol "N" in the periodic table, and it makes up about 78% of the Earth's atmosphere.
2. -ase: The suffix "-ase" is often used to denote enzymes (biological catalysts) in biochemistry. It derives from the Greek word "-asis", meaning "action" or "process". Enzymes are proteins that catalyze various biochemical reactions in living organisms.
Similar spelling words for NITROGENASE
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