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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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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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Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism01:20

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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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Environmental Applications of Microorganisms01:30

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Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...
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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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Microorganisms in Agriculture and Food industry01:27

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Microorganisms play a crucial role in agriculture and the food industry, contributing to soil fertility, crop protection, and food production. Their functions range from nitrogen fixation and biopesticide production to fermentation and food preservation, making them indispensable to sustainable farming and food safety.Role in AgricultureNitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as Rhizobium (symbiotic) and Azotobacter (free-living), convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia through biological nitrogen...
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Updated: Sep 11, 2025

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Harnessing biological nitrogen fixation: Multi-scale engineering for self-sustaining agroecosystems.

Wanjing Wu1, Haiyang Hu1, Weiwei Wang1

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, and School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China.

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Biological nitrogen fixation converts atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers. Research focuses on enhancing this process for improved crop yields and eco-friendly agriculture.

Keywords:
Agricultural nitrogen fixation systemsMicrobiomeNitrogen fixing geneNitrogenaseSynthetic biology

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Area of Science:

  • Agricultural Science
  • Microbiology
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Prokaryotic microorganisms can convert atmospheric nitrogen gas into ammonia via biological nitrogen fixation.
  • This natural process presents a sustainable alternative to synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, crucial for agricultural productivity.
  • Enhancing nitrogen fixation efficiency and enabling crops to perform biological nitrogen fixation are key research objectives.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review molecular mechanisms of nitrogenase activity.
  • To explore engineering strategies for improving nitrogen fixation in non-fixing organisms.
  • To evaluate synthetic biology for robust nitrogen-fixing systems.

Main Methods:

  • Exploration of molecular mechanisms governing nitrogenase activity.
  • Review of engineering strategies for enhancing nitrogen fixation in non-diazotrophic hosts.
  • Evaluation of synthetic biology approaches for nitrogen-fixing systems.

Main Results:

  • Detailed review of molecular mechanisms and engineering strategies for nitrogen fixation.
  • Assessment of synthetic biology's role in creating nitrogen-fixing systems.
  • Emphasis on multi-scale engineering from microbial chassis to ecosystem levels.

Conclusions:

  • Integration of multi-scale engineering is critical for self-sustaining agroecosystems.
  • Developing bioengineering solutions enhances crop productivity and reduces ecological impact.
  • Addressing challenges and research priorities will expand practical applications of biological nitrogen fixation.