Observe the NITROGEN CYCLE given below and answer the following questions.
Splitting of dinitrogen molecule into free nitrogen atom in biological nitrogen fixation is carried out by.
A
Hydrogenase
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B
Nitrogenase
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C
Dinitrogenase
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D
Nitrate reductase
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Solution
The correct option is B Nitrogenase
Nitrogen fixation would not occur without a special enzyme called nitrogenase, an enzyme found in some types of microbes that allows for the reduction of nitrogen gas to free nitrogen atom and then ammonium. Hydrogenase is an oxidative enzyme that reversibly activates molecular hydrogen in prokaryotes and some eukaryotes.
One of two enzymes which, together with ATP, catalyze the reduction of molecular nitrogen into ammonia is known as dinitrogenase.
The nitrite is immediately reduced to ammonia (probably via hydroxylamine) by the activity of nitrite reductase.