nitrogenase

[ nahy-troj-uh-neys, -neyz, nahy-truh-juh- ]

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

Origin of nitrogenase

1
First recorded in 1930–35; nitrogen + -ase

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

Scientific definitions for nitrogenase

nitrogenase

[ nī-trŏjə-nās′, nītrə-jə- ]


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

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.