Nitrogenase: Difference between revisions
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== <p style="font-size:x-large;">Nitrogenase</p> == | == <p style="font-size:x-large;">Nitrogenase</p> == | ||
<applet load="1N2C" size=" | <applet load="1N2C" size="300" color="white" frame="true" align="right" caption="Nitrogenase"/> | ||
'''Nitrogenase''' is an enzyme that fixes atmospheric nitrogen (N<sub>2</sub>) into ammonia. Though abundantly present in the atmosphere, most organisms cannot utilize N<sub>2</sub> directly, and must instead take it in through other forms, like ammonia or nitrate. The triple bond in N<sub>2</sub> is highly resistant to changes in oxidation state, and nitrogenases, found only in nitrogen-fixing bacteria, are the only proteins capable of reducing N<sub>2</sub> to ammonia. | '''Nitrogenase''' is an enzyme that fixes atmospheric nitrogen (N<sub>2</sub>) into ammonia. Though abundantly present in the atmosphere, most organisms cannot utilize N<sub>2</sub> directly, and must instead take it in through other forms, like ammonia or nitrate. The triple bond in N<sub>2</sub> is highly resistant to changes in oxidation state, and nitrogenases, found only in nitrogen-fixing bacteria, are the only proteins capable of reducing N<sub>2</sub> to ammonia. | ||