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Related Concept Videos

Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation01:22

Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation

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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...
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Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism01:20

Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism

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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...
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The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition02:11

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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.
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Overview of Metabolism01:40

Overview of Metabolism

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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...
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The Nitrogen Cycle01:49

The Nitrogen Cycle

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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...
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Key Elements for Plant Nutrition02:35

Key Elements for Plant Nutrition

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Like all living organisms, plants require organic and inorganic nutrients to survive, reproduce, grow and maintain homeostasis. To identify nutrients that are essential for plant functioning, researchers have leveraged a technique called hydroponics. In hydroponic culture systems, plants are grown—without soil—in water-based solutions containing nutrients. At least 17 nutrients have been identified as essential elements required by plants. Plants acquire these elements from the...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 18, 2026

Microplot Design and Plant and Soil Sample Preparation for 15Nitrogen Analysis
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Towards establishing functional nitrogenase activities within plants.

Fang Liu1, Zehong Zhao2, Alisdair R Fernie3

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Seed Innovation, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.

Trends in Biotechnology
|May 29, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Researchers are engineering nitrogenase, the enzyme for biological nitrogen fixation, into non-legume crops. This sustainable agriculture approach aims to reduce fertilizer reliance and boost food security.

Keywords:
biological nitrogen fixationdirected evolutionmetal cluster assemblynitrogenaseoxygen sensitivitysynthetic biology

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Area of Science:

  • Agricultural Science
  • Biotechnology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Biological nitrogen fixation converts atmospheric N₂ to NH₃, essential for plant growth.
  • Legumes naturally host nitrogen-fixing bacteria, while non-legumes depend on synthetic fertilizers.
  • Current methods for nitrogen fixation in non-legumes are hindered by oxygen sensitivity, complex enzyme assembly, and high energy requirements.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the engineering of nitrogenase in non-legume organisms for sustainable agriculture.
  • To overcome key challenges in nitrogenase function, including oxygen sensitivity and energy demands.
  • To advance the development of nitrogen-fixing crops to reduce fertilizer dependence and enhance food security.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing synthetic biology and AI-driven design for nitrogenase engineering.
  • Demonstrating partial nitrogenase reconstitution in model organisms like Escherichia coli and yeast.
  • Engineering nitrogenase within yeast mitochondria to mitigate oxygen sensitivity.

Main Results:

  • Partial reconstitution of nitrogenase activity has been achieved in Escherichia coli and yeast.
  • Mitochondrial engineering in yeast provides a strategy to overcome oxygen sensitivity.
  • Advances indicate potential for overcoming energy costs and feedback inhibition.

Conclusions:

  • Engineering nitrogenase in non-legumes is a promising strategy for sustainable agriculture.
  • Successful implementation could significantly reduce reliance on nitrogen fertilizers and associated pollution.
  • Development of nitrogen-fixing crops offers a pathway to enhanced global food security.