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Full-Text Articles in Structural Biology
Molecular Characterization Of Nitrogenase Regulation In Methanosarcina Acetivorans, Melissa Chanderban
Molecular Characterization Of Nitrogenase Regulation In Methanosarcina Acetivorans, Melissa Chanderban
Graduate Theses and Dissertations
Nitrogenase is the metalloenzyme only found in bacteria and archaea that is essential for biological nitrogen fixation (diazotrophy), but it can also serve as a catalyst in biofuel production. All diazotrophs contain a molybdenum (Mo) nitrogenase, while some species contain additional alternative nitrogenases where either vanadium (V) or iron (Fe) replace Mo in the active site cofactor. Nitrogen fixation by bacteria has been extensively studied. The limited investigation of nitrogen fixation in methanogenic archaea (methanogens) indicates production of nitrogenase is simpler than in bacteria and methanogen nitrogenase has different biochemical properties. Thus, methanogen nitrogenases provide a promising alternative for genetic …