Nitrogenase

<p>Nitrogenases are <a href="/facts/Enzymes/DSI1Fh7y">enzymes</a> (<a href="/facts/Enzyme_Commission_number/Y5GNLRKX">EC</a> <a href="https://enzyme.expasy.org/EC/1.18.6.1">1.18.6.1</a><a href="/facts/Enzyme_Commission_number/Y5GNLRKX">EC</a> <a href="https://enzyme.expasy.org/EC/1.19.6.1">1.19.6.1</a>) that are produced by certain <a href="/facts/Bacteria/wC8xSCsU">bacteria</a>, such as <a href="/facts/Cyanobacteria/S8bKxIU9">cyanobacteria</a> (blue-green bacteria) and <a href="/facts/Rhizobacteria/jCbwNvm6">rhizobacteria</a>. These enzymes are responsible for the <a href="/facts/Organic_redox_reaction/6DdmXG4S">reduction</a> of <a href="/facts/Nitrogen/Nf1QpGDz">nitrogen</a> (N2) to <a href="/facts/Ammonia/MtLtJFtz">ammonia</a> (NH3). Nitrogenases are the only family of enzymes known to catalyze this reaction, which is a step in the process of <a href="/facts/Nitrogen_fixation/TeLoBpWS">nitrogen fixation</a>. Nitrogen fixation is required for all forms of life, with nitrogen being essential for the <a href="/facts/Biosynthesis/aFk7Tk7f">biosynthesis</a> of <a href="/facts/Molecules/N9ljSfFq">molecules</a> (<a href="/facts/Nucleotides/pQKEwlJI">nucleotides</a>, <a href="/facts/Amino_acids/WDxYwBny">amino acids</a>) that create plants, animals and other organisms. They are encoded by the <a href="/facts/Nif_gene/s6pIrE7A">Nif genes</a> or <a href="/facts/Homologous_chromosome/hktsBhyx">homologs</a>. They are related to <a href="/facts/Protochlorophyllide_reductase/6rUg6anF">protochlorophyllide reductase</a>.
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Nitrogenase open-in-new

Nitrogenase