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Related Concept Videos

The Nitrogen Cycle01:49

The Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen atoms, present in all proteins and DNA, are recycled between abiotic and biotic components of the ecosystem. However, the primary form of nitrogen on Earth is nitrogen gas, which cannot be used by most animals and plants. Thus, nitrogen gas must first be converted into a usable form by nitrogen-fixing bacteria before it can be cycled through other living organisms. The use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers and animal waste products in human agriculture has greatly influenced the...
2° Amines to N-Nitrosamines: Reaction with NaNO201:20

2° Amines to N-Nitrosamines: Reaction with NaNO2

Secondary amines react with nitrous acid to form N-nitrosamines, as depicted in Figure 1. Nitrous acid, a weak and unstable acid, is formed in situ from an aqueous solution of sodium nitrite and strong acids, such as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid, in cold conditions. In the presence of an acid, the nitrous acid gets protonated. The subsequent loss of water results in the formation of the electrophile known as nitrosonium ion.
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...
Rate-Determining Steps03:08

Rate-Determining Steps

Relating Reaction Mechanisms
In a multistep reaction mechanism, one of the elementary steps progresses significantly slower than the others. This slowest step is called the rate-limiting step (or rate-determining step). A reaction cannot proceed faster than its slowest step, and hence, the rate-determining step limits the overall reaction rate.
The concept of rate-determining step can be understood from the analogy of a 4-lane freeway with a short-stretch of traffic-bottleneck caused due to...
ATP Synthase: Mechanism01:48

ATP Synthase: Mechanism

In animals, the mitochondrial F1F0 ATP synthase is the key protein that synthesizes ATP molecules through a complex catalytic mechanism. While the nuclear genome encodes the majority of ATP synthase subunits, the mitochondrial genome encodes some of the enzyme's most critical components. The formation of this multi-subunit enzyme is a complex multi-step process regulated at the level of transcription, translation, and assembly. Defects in one or more of these steps can result in decreased ATP...
1° Amines to Diazonium or Aryldiazonium Salts: Diazotization with NaNO2 Mechanism01:37

1° Amines to Diazonium or Aryldiazonium Salts: Diazotization with NaNO2 Mechanism

Nitrous acid is a relatively weak and unstable acid prepared in situ by the reaction of sodium nitrite and cold, dilute hydrochloric acid. In an acidic solution, the nitrous acid undergoes protonation when it loses water to form a nitrosonium ion—an electrophile. Nitrous acid reacts with primary amines to give diazonium salts. The reaction is called diazotization of primary amines.

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Protein Film Infrared Electrochemistry Demonstrated for Study of H2 Oxidation by a [NiFe] Hydrogenase
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Vanadium nitrogenase: a two-hit wonder?

Yilin Hu1, Chi Chung Lee, Markus W Ribbe

  • 1Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-3900, USA. yilinh@uci.edu

Dalton Transactions (Cambridge, England : 2003)
|November 22, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Vanadium nitrogenase, a unique metalloenzyme, converts atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia. Recent findings reveal its CO-reducing capacity, highlighting its potential in nitrogen fixation research.

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Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotube with Doped Co and N Atoms and its Catalytic Applications in Hydrogen Production

Published on: December 6, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Enzymology
  • Bioinorganic Chemistry

Background:

  • Nitrogenase enzymes are crucial for converting atmospheric dinitrogen into bioavailable ammonia.
  • Molybdenum (Mo)- and vanadium (V)-dependent nitrogenases are homologous metalloenzymes with similar structures and functions.
  • Research on V-nitrogenase has historically lagged behind Mo-nitrogenase, despite their relatedness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an overview of the catalytic function and structural basis of V-nitrogenase.
  • To discuss the theoretical and practical potentials of V-nitrogenase.
  • To highlight recent discoveries, such as the CO-reducing capacity of V-nitrogenase.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on V-nitrogenase.
  • Analysis of structural and functional data for V-nitrogenase.
  • Discussion of theoretical models and experimental findings related to V-nitrogenase activity.

Main Results:

  • V-nitrogenase exhibits unique catalytic properties, including a recently identified CO-reducing capacity.
  • The structural and functional characterization of V-nitrogenase has been complex and lengthy.
  • V-nitrogenase represents a significant area of study in the century-long research of nitrogen fixation.

Conclusions:

  • V-nitrogenase is a remarkable metalloenzyme with dual catalytic functions (nitrogen fixation and CO reduction).
  • Understanding V-nitrogenase's structure and function offers insights into biological nitrogen fixation and potential biotechnological applications.
  • Further research into V-nitrogenase is essential to fully realize its theoretical and practical potential.