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Question

Leguminous plants are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen through the process of symbiotic nitrogen fixation.
Which one of the following statements is not correct for this process of nitrogen fixation?

A
Leghaemoglobin scavenges oxygen and is pinkish in colour.
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B
Nodules act as sites for fixation.
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C
The enzyme nitrogenase catalyses the conversion of atmospheric N2 to NH3.
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D
Nitrogenase is insensitive to oxygen.
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Solution

The correct option is C Nitrogenase is insensitive to oxygen.
Nitrogenases are enzymes that are produced by certain bacteria, such as cyanobacteria. These enzymes are responsible for the reduction of nitrogen to ammonia. Nitrogenases are the only family of enzymes known to catalyze this reaction, which is a key step in the process of nitrogen fixation. It is rapidly destroyed by oxygen. Hence, nitrogen-fixing organisms face the problem of protecting their nitrogenase from inactivation by oxygen. The need to protect nitrogenase becomes particularly important in the cyanobacteria, which evolve oxygen photosynthetically.
Thus, the correct answer is 'Nitrogenase is insensitive to oxygen.'

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