Nitrogen fixation
Nitrogen Fixation
Nitrogen fixation (pronunciation: /ˈnaɪtrədʒən fɪkˈseɪʃən/) is a crucial biological process in which atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is converted into ammonia (NH3) by certain types of microorganisms, often bacteria. This process is essential for life because it provides a form of nitrogen that plants can use to synthesize amino acids and nucleotides, which are the building blocks of proteins and DNA, respectively.
Etymology
The term "nitrogen fixation" is derived from the Latin words "nitrogenium," meaning "nitrogen," and "fixation," meaning "to fix or set." It was first used in the late 19th century to describe the process by which certain bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can use.
Process
Nitrogen fixation occurs in three steps: nitrogen reduction, nitrogen assimilation, and nitrogen recycling. In the first step, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as Rhizobium, use an enzyme called nitrogenase to convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia. In the second step, the ammonia is assimilated into organic compounds, such as amino acids. In the third step, the organic compounds are recycled back into the environment when organisms die and decompose.
Related Terms
- Nitrogen cycle: The series of processes by which nitrogen and its compounds are interconverted in the environment and in living organisms, including nitrogen fixation and denitrification.
- Denitrification: The microbial process of reducing nitrate and nitrite to gaseous nitrogen, which is then released into the atmosphere.
- Nitrification: The biological oxidation of ammonia or ammonium to nitrite followed by the oxidation of the nitrite to nitrate.
- Ammonification: The process by which the organically bound nitrogen of microbial, plant, and animal biomass is recycled after their death.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Nitrogen fixation
- Wikipedia's article - Nitrogen fixation
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