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.

---

nitrogenase Scientific  

/ nī-trŏj′ə-nās′,nī′trə-jə- /

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

---

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

"For years, we have been finding gene fragments encoding the nitrogen-fixing nitrogenase enzyme, which appeared to belong to one particular non-cyanobacterial nitrogen fixer," says Marcel Kuypers, lead author on the study.

From Science Daily

This is where the microbes’ nitrogenase enzyme kicks in.

From Science Magazine

But most of the biosphere’s usable nitrogen is the result of bacteria employing an enzyme called nitrogenase to pull nitrogen out of the air. 

From Scientific American

A few microorganisms possess nitrogenase enzymes that can perform this chemical reaction, and about half of the nitrogen in your body comes from these microorganisms.

From Scientific American