TLS Online TPP Program

#Question id: 10365


Why the nitrogenase enzymes catalyzes the nitrogen fixation reaction only in microanaerobic or anaerobic conditions?

#Unit 6. System Physiology – Plant
  1. O2 form ROS (reactive oxygen species) that inhibits the enzyme nitrogenase
  2. Oxygen, being a strong electron acceptor, can damage these sites and irreversibly inactivate nitrogenase, so nitrogen must be fixed under anaerobic conditions
  3. Because lack a PSI, the oxygen-producing photosystem of chloroplasts, so they do not generate oxygen
  4. nitrogenase enzymes only active in anaerobic environment and inhibit in the aerobic environment due to O2