nitrogenase

American  

[nahy-troj-uh-neys, -neyz, nahy-truh-juh-] / naɪˈtrɒdʒ əˌneɪs, -ˌneɪz, ˈnaɪ trə dʒə- /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. an enzyme complex that catalyzes the reduction of molecular nitrogen in the nitrogen-fixation process of bacteria.

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nitrogenase Scientific  

/ nī-trŏj′ə-nās′,nī′trə-jə- /

1. An enzyme of nitrogen-fixing bacteria that catalyzes the conversion of nitrogen to ammonia.

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Etymology

Origin of nitrogenase

First recorded in 1930–35; nitrogen + -ase

Example Sentences

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria generate an enzyme called nitrogenase, sometimes referred to as the "fixer" because it carries out nitrogen fixation.

From Science Daily • Nov. 24, 2025

These biofilms are sticky coatings that wrap around the bacteria, producing a low-oxygen microenvironment suitable for nitrogenase activity.

From Science Daily • Nov. 24, 2025

This process entails the reduction of atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia, by means of the enzyme nitrogenase.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

A key step in the global nitrogen cycle is the reduction of atmospheric dinitrogen to ammonia by nitrogenase, a complex metalloenzyme.

From Science Magazine • Jan. 6, 2011

Likewise, the protein NifEN displays sequence similarity to NifDK, but it plays a role in nitrogenase assembly: It converts an iron-only precursor form to the mature molybdenum cluster and delivers this to NifDK.

From Science Magazine • Jan. 6, 2011