Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation01:22

Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation

Nitrogen is an essential element in biological systems, forming a crucial component of proteins, nucleic acids, and other cellular constituents. Many bacteria and archaea acquire nitrogen in the form of nitrate (NO₃⁻) or ammonia (NH₃), which are then assimilated into biomolecules through specific enzymatic pathways.Assimilatory Nitrate ReductionWhen nitrate enters the cell, it undergoes a two-step reduction process known as assimilatory nitrate reduction. Initially, the enzyme nitrate reductase...
Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism01:20

Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism

Nitrogen is a very important element for life because it is a major constituent of proteins and nucleic acids. It is a macronutrient, and in nature, it is recycled from organic compounds and stored in the form of  ammonia, ammonium ions, nitrate, nitrite, or  nitrogen gas by many metabolic processes. Many of these metabolic processes are carried out only by prokaryotes.
The largest pool of nitrogen available in the terrestrial ecosystem is gaseous nitrogen (N2) from the air, but this nitrogen...
Microbes and the Nitrogen Cycle01:26

Microbes and the Nitrogen Cycle

The nitrogen cycle is a complex biogeochemical process critical to maintaining the balance of nitrogenous compounds in ecosystems. This cycle involves multiple microbial-mediated transformations through which nitrogen changes oxidation states, supporting essential ecological functions and contributing to plant and microbial growth.Nitrogen Fixation and AmmonificationNitrogen fixation initiates the cycle by converting inert atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into bioavailable ammonia (NH₃), a process...
Overview of Metabolism01:40

Overview of Metabolism

Living cells constantly carry out various chemical reactions which are necessary for their proper functioning. These reactions are interlinked to one another via multiple pathways. The collection of these chemical reactions is known as metabolism.
Plant Metabolism
Sunlight, the primary source of energy in plants, is first absorbed by the chlorophyll pigments present in their leaves. Plants then use this energy to carry out photosynthesis, where water is oxidized into oxygen and carbon dioxide...
The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition02:11

The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition

Plants have the impressive ability to create their own food through photosynthesis. However, plants often require assistance from organisms in the soil to acquire the nutrients they need to function correctly. Both bacteria and fungi have evolved symbiotic relationships with plants that help the species to thrive in a wide variety of environments.
Carbon-dioxide Fixation01:28

Carbon-dioxide Fixation

Carbon dioxide fixation in prokaryotes enables the assimilation of inorganic carbon into organic molecules, supporting biosynthetic pathways, sustaining ecosystems, and contributing to the global carbon cycle. It also has industrial applications in carbon capture and bioproduct synthesis. Autotrophic organisms rely on this process to utilize CO₂ as a carbon source in diverse environments.The Calvin CycleThe Calvin cycle is the most widespread carbon fixation mechanism, primarily used by...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The <i>Escherichia coli</i> Radical SAM Enzyme YhcC Substitutes for the FAD-Dependent Oxidase Activity of MnmC in 5-Methylaminomethyl-2-Thiouridine tRNA Modification Under Anaerobic Conditions.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Intricacies in iron-sulfur cluster function and biogenesis: functional versatility, sulfur sources, and enzyme specificity.

RSC chemical biology·2026
Same author

Editorial: Special issue on iron-sulfur proteins.

Journal of inorganic biochemistry·2026
Same author

Differential reactivity of bacillithiol, mycothiol and glutathione with nitroxyl (HNO): Structural determinants and potential biological implications.

Redox biology·2025
Same author

Direct assembly of the iron‑sulfur cluster on quinolinate synthase NadA by the Bacillus subtilis cysteine sulfurtransferase NifS.

Journal of inorganic biochemistry·2025
Same author

Interactions with sulfur acceptors modulate the reactivity of cysteine desulfurases and define their physiological functions.

Biochimica et biophysica acta. Molecular cell research·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2026

An Array-based Comparative Genomic Hybridization Platform for Efficient Detection of Copy Number Variations in Fast Neutron-induced Medicago truncatula Mutants
09:32

An Array-based Comparative Genomic Hybridization Platform for Efficient Detection of Copy Number Variations in Fast Neutron-induced Medicago truncatula Mutants

Published on: November 8, 2017

Genomic analysis of nitrogen fixation.

Ina P O'Carroll1, Patricia C Dos Santos

  • 1HIV Drug Resistance Program, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA. ocarrolli@mail.nih.gov

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|August 12, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Genomic sequencing advances reveal new nitrogen-fixing bacteria and their genes. This review covers analyzing these genomes and modifying them to study nitrogen fixation.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genomics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Recent advances in sequencing technology have facilitated the comprehensive analysis of thousands of microbial genomes, including diazotrophs.
  • Genomic analysis has become a powerful tool for understanding nitrogen fixation pathways and discovering novel nitrogen-fixing organisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the key characteristics of nitrogen-fixing genomes.
  • To outline methods for identifying and analyzing new diazotrophs using genome scanning.
  • To discuss genome modification approaches for studying nitrogen fixation.

Main Methods:

  • Genome scanning techniques for identifying diazotrophic genes and species.
  • Comparative genomics to analyze gene organization in nitrogen-fixing organisms.

More Related Videos

Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O
08:05

Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O

Published on: October 7, 2020

Microplot Design and Plant and Soil Sample Preparation for 15Nitrogen Analysis
08:44

Microplot Design and Plant and Soil Sample Preparation for 15Nitrogen Analysis

Published on: May 10, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 30, 2026

An Array-based Comparative Genomic Hybridization Platform for Efficient Detection of Copy Number Variations in Fast Neutron-induced Medicago truncatula Mutants
09:32

An Array-based Comparative Genomic Hybridization Platform for Efficient Detection of Copy Number Variations in Fast Neutron-induced Medicago truncatula Mutants

Published on: November 8, 2017

Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O
08:05

Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O

Published on: October 7, 2020

Microplot Design and Plant and Soil Sample Preparation for 15Nitrogen Analysis
08:44

Microplot Design and Plant and Soil Sample Preparation for 15Nitrogen Analysis

Published on: May 10, 2020

  • Review of genetic, biochemical, and biophysical methods for studying nitrogen fixation.

    • Main Results:

    • Identification of novel genes and species involved in biological nitrogen fixation.
    • Detailed analysis of gene organization within nitrogen-fixing genomes, using Azotobacter vinelandii as a model.
    • Understanding the role of accessory genes in supporting diazotrophy.

    Conclusions:

    • Genomic approaches are crucial for advancing the study of biological nitrogen fixation.
    • Azotobacter vinelandii serves as a valuable model for exploring nitrogen-fixing genomes.
    • Genome modification techniques offer powerful avenues for in-depth study of nitrogen fixation mechanisms.