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Glite Dictionary
nitrogenase

nitrogenase

1 9.9
A protein in certain bacteria that converts nitrogen gas into ammonia plants can use
  • noun
  • /naɪˈtroʊdʒəneɪz/
  • Specialized
: nitrogenasa
  • The nitrogenase enzyme plays a crucial role in nitrogen fixation.
  • iron-only nitrogenase

Examples

  • Without nitrogenase, plants could not access sufficient nitrogen from the soil.

  • The enzyme nitrogenase is essential for converting atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, a process vital for plant growth.

  • Nitrogenase is essential for the process of nitrogen fixation in certain bacteria.

  • Researchers study how nitrogenase enables microorganisms to convert nitrogen gas into usable ammonia.

  • Many nitrogenases are found in symbiotic bacteria.

  • The activity of nitrogenase allows certain bacteria to thrive in environments where other organisms cannot survive.

  • Research shows that the nitrogenase enzyme plays a critical role in the nitrogen cycle, supporting life on Earth.

Surface Forms

nitrogenase singular
nitrogenases plural

Morphology

nitrogenase = nitrogen (transparent) = nitrogen + ase

Formed from 'nitrogen' + the productive enzyme-forming suffix '-ase', indicating an enzyme that acts on or is associated with nitrogen.

Etymology

The word nitrogenase comes from nitrogen, the gas in the air, and the ending -ase, which means 'enzyme' and appears in names like lipase. So nitrogenase is an enzyme that works on nitrogen, turning it into ammonia that plants can use.