NAME: ELEWONONI BISAYO JOANN

MATRIC NO: 190807507

DEPARTMENT: MICROBIOLOGY
COURSE CODE: MIC 323
LECTURER: DR BURAIMOH

QUESTIONS:
1. What is Nitrogen fixation?
2. Discuss the biology of Nitrogen fixation.

Answer:
1. Nitrogen fixation can be defined as the process by which atmospheric nitrogen gas
(N2) is converted into a form that can be utilized by living organisms. It is primarily
carried out by certain bacteria, archaea, and some cyanobacteria. These
microorganisms possess an enzyme called nitrogenase, which is capable of breaking
the strong triple bond between nitrogen atoms in N2 and converting it into more reactive
forms. However, most organisms cannot use nitrogen in its gaseous form directly.
There are 2 primary types of Nitrogen fixation, namely:
(a) Biological nitrogen fixation.
(b) Industrial nitrogen fixation.
and they are both important for maintaining the availability of nitrogen in ecosystems
and for sustaining global food production. By converting atmospheric nitrogen into a
usable form, nitrogen fixation plays a vital role in the nitrogen cycle and helps support
the growth of plants and other organisms.

2. Nitrogen fixation is an important biological process that involves specific

microorganisms, nitrogenase enzymes, and regulatory mechanisms. They can be
broken down in more details as follows:
(a) Nitrogen fixing organisms: It is primarily carried out by certain groups of bacteria,
archaea, and cyanobacteria:
i. Bacteria: The most well-known nitrogen-fixing bacteria belong to the genera
Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, Azotobacter, and Azospirillum. These bacteria establish a
symbiotic relationship with leguminous plants by colonizing the roots of these plants and
form specialized structures called nodules. Within the nodules, bacteria convert
atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, providing a source of fixed nitrogen to the plants.
ii. Archaea: Some groups of archaea, especially those belonging to the genus
Methanococcus, are also capable of nitrogen fixation. These archaea perform nitrogen
fixation under anaerobic conditions using a special variant of the nitrogenase enzyme.
iii. Cyanobacteria: some particular species of cyanobacteria, such as Anabaena and
Nostoc, can fix nitrogen. These organisms possess specialized cells called heterocysts,
which create an anaerobic environment necessary for nitrogenase activity.

(b) Nitrogenase Enzyme: They rely on the activity of the nitrogenase enzyme complex,
which is responsible for converting atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3).
i. Nitrogenase consists of two main components: the dinitrogenase reductase (Fe
protein) and the dinitrogenase (MoFe protein). The Fe protein receives electrons from
an electron donor, usually a flavodoxin or ferredoxin, and transfers them to the MoFe
protein. The MoFe protein contains iron (Fe) and molybdenum (Mo) at its active site. It
binds and reduces nitrogen gas, breaking the strong triple bond between nitrogen
atoms.
The process of nitrogen fixation is energy-intensive, requiring ATP (adenosine
triphosphate) as an energy source and a constant supply of reducing equivalents
(electrons) to drive the reduction of nitrogen.

(c) Regulation of Nitrogen Fixation:

i. Oxygen Sensitivity: Nitrogenase is extremely sensitive to oxygen, and its activity is
inhibited in the presence of high oxygen concentrations. Therefore, nitrogen-fixing
organisms have developed mechanisms to protect nitrogenase from oxygen.
ii. Nodules and Heterocysts: Nodules in leguminous plants and heterocysts in
cyanobacteria create anaerobic conditions by limiting oxygen diffusion. This allows
nitrogenase to function efficiently.
iii. Nitrogenase Switch-off: Nitrogen-fixing bacteria regulate the synthesis of nitrogenase
enzymes in response to the availability of fixed nitrogen. When sufficient fixed nitrogen
is present, the expression of nitrogenase is downregulated to conserve energy.

(d) Importance in ecosystems: Nitrogen fixation is crucial for maintaining the availability
of nitrogen in ecosystems and sustaining the growth of organisms. It plays a vital role in
the nitrogen cycle, which involves the transformation of nitrogen through various
biological and abiotic processes. It also helps in plant nutrition and agricultural
productivity.