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==Nitrogenase== | ==Nitrogenase== | ||
| + | Nitrogen is needed by all living things to build proteins and nucleic acids. Nitrogen gas, however, is very stable and difficult to break apart into individual nitrogen atoms. Usable nitrogen, in the form of ammonia or nitrate salts, is scarce. Often, the growth of plants is limited by the amount of nitrogen available in the soil. Small amounts of usable forms of nitrogen are formed by lightning and the ultraviolet light from the sun. Significant amounts of nitrogen are fed to plants in the form of industrial fertilizers. But the lion's share of usable nitrogen is created by bacteria, using the enzyme nitrogenase. | ||
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<Structure load='1N2C' size='350' frame='true' align='right' caption='Structure of Nitrogenase' scene='Structure of Nitrogenase' /> | <Structure load='1N2C' size='350' frame='true' align='right' caption='Structure of Nitrogenase' scene='Structure of Nitrogenase' /> | ||
This is a default text for your page ''''''. Click above on '''edit this page''' to modify. Be careful with the < and > signs. | This is a default text for your page ''''''. Click above on '''edit this page''' to modify. Be careful with the < and > signs. | ||
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== Function == | == Function == | ||
| - | == | + | == Nitrogen Fixation == |
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| + | Nitrogen-fixing bacteria have the ability to convert nitrogen gas into ammonia, which is easily combined with other raw materials to form the building blocks of proteins and nucleic acids. This process requires extreme measures, because nitrogen gas is so stable. The industrial process used to create ammonia requires high temperatures and pressures of 300 atmospheres, along with catalysts. In nitrogen-fixing bacteria, the enzyme nitrogenase drives the reaction with a large quantity of ATP, and uses a collection of metal ions, including an unusual molybdenum ion, to perform the reaction. | ||
== Relevance == | == Relevance == | ||
Revision as of 17:57, 27 February 2018
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Contents |
Nitrogenase
Nitrogen is needed by all living things to build proteins and nucleic acids. Nitrogen gas, however, is very stable and difficult to break apart into individual nitrogen atoms. Usable nitrogen, in the form of ammonia or nitrate salts, is scarce. Often, the growth of plants is limited by the amount of nitrogen available in the soil. Small amounts of usable forms of nitrogen are formed by lightning and the ultraviolet light from the sun. Significant amounts of nitrogen are fed to plants in the form of industrial fertilizers. But the lion's share of usable nitrogen is created by bacteria, using the enzyme nitrogenase.
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Structural Highlights
The structure of nitrogenase consists of metal clusters centered throughout the protein. Three of these clusters are the 4Fe-4S Cluster, P-Cluster, and FeMo-Cluster. At either end of the protein are two copies of the Fe protein dimer, which is also the site of the ATP binding site. At these sites are ADP molecules which form a stable complex with the Fe protein. The MoFe protein, the central components of the protein, is where most of nitrogenase’s function is carried out. This protein requires a constant state of electrons which is supplied by the Fe protein which uses the hydrolysis of ATP to pump these electrons into the MoFe protein. Thus, it is helpful for the Fe protein to be coupled with ADP/ATP at the ends of the protein.
Fe-ATP Complex
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References
Goodsell, David. “Nitrogenase.” PDB-101: Nitrogenase, Protein Data Bank, Feb. 2002, pdb101.rcsb.org/motm/26.
