Potential Impact of Biological Nitrogen Fixation: The Case of Corn

1989 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-156
Author(s):  
Catherine Halbrendt ◽  
Melvin Blase
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Biological Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Biological Nitrogen

Biological nitrogen fixation research and technology assessment for Egypt: II. Training, research, and inoculant production

1984 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-28
Author(s):  
J. R. Sims ◽  
W. C. Lindemann ◽  
R. S. Smith ◽  
S. H. West ◽  
L. R. Frederick
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Biological Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Training Research ◽  
Biological Nitrogen

scholarly journals Functional analysis of multiple nifB genes of Paenibacillus strains in synthesis of Mo-, Fe- and V-nitrogenases

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qin Li ◽  
Haowei Zhang ◽  
Liqun Zhang ◽  
Sanfeng Chen
Keyword(s):  
Functional Analysis ◽  
Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Gene Cluster ◽  
Biological Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Deletion Analysis ◽  
Phylogeny Analysis ◽  
Biological Nitrogen

Abstract Background Biological nitrogen fixation is catalyzed by Mo-, V- and Fe-nitrogenases that are encoded by nif, vnf and anf genes, respectively. NifB is the key protein in synthesis of the cofactors of all nitrogenases. Most diazotrophic Paenibacillus strains have only one nifB gene located in a compact nif gene cluster (nifBHDKENX(orf1)hesAnifV). But some Paenibacillus strains have multiple nifB genes and their functions are not known. Results A total of 138 nifB genes are found in the 116 diazotrophic Paenibacillus strains. Phylogeny analysis shows that these nifB genes fall into 4 classes: nifBI class including the genes (named as nifB1 genes) that are the first gene within the compact nif gene cluster, nifBII class including the genes (named as nifB2 genes) that are adjacent to anf or vnf genes, nifBIII class whose members are designated as nifB3 genes and nifBIV class whose members are named as nifB4 genes are scattered on genomes. Functional analysis by complementation of the ∆nifB mutant of P. polymyxa which has only one nifB gene has shown that both nifB1 and nifB2 are active in synthesis of Mo-nitrogenase, while nifB3 and nifB4 genes are not. Deletion analysis also has revealed that nifB1 of Paenibacillus sabinae T27 is involved in synthesis of Mo-nitrogenase, while nifB3 and nifB4 genes are not. Complementation of the P. polymyxa ∆nifBHDK mutant with the four reconstituted operons: nifB1anfHDGK, nifB2anfHDGK, nifB1vnfHDGK and nifB2vnfHDGK, has shown both that nifB1 and nifB2 were able to support synthesis of Fe- or V-nitrogenases. Transcriptional results obtained in the original Paenibacillus strains are consistent with the complementation results. Conclusions The multiple nifB genes of the diazotrophic Paenibacillus strains are divided into 4 classes. The nifB1 located in a compact nif gene cluster (nifBHDKENX(orf1)hesAnifV) and the nifB2 genes being adjacent to nif or anf or vnf genes are active in synthesis of Mo-, Fe and V-nitrogenases, but nifB3 and nifB4 are not. The reconstituted anf system comprising 8 genes (nifBanfHDGK and nifXhesAnifV) and vnf system comprising 10 genes (nifBvnfHDGKEN and nifXhesAnifV) support synthesis of Fe-nitrogenase and V-nitrogenase in Paenibacillus background, respectively.

scholarly journals Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation and the Challenges to Its Extension to Nonlegumes

2016 ◽  
Vol 82 (13) ◽  
pp. 3698-3710 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florence Mus ◽  
Matthew B. Crook ◽  
Kevin Garcia ◽  
Amaya Garcia Costas ◽  
Barney A. Geddes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Biological Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation ◽  
Crop Plants ◽  
Symbiotic Relationships ◽  
Mutualistic Relationship ◽  
Interest In Research ◽  
Biological Nitrogen ◽  
Developed World

ABSTRACTAccess to fixed or available forms of nitrogen limits the productivity of crop plants and thus food production. Nitrogenous fertilizer production currently represents a significant expense for the efficient growth of various crops in the developed world. There are significant potential gains to be had from reducing dependence on nitrogenous fertilizers in agriculture in the developed world and in developing countries, and there is significant interest in research on biological nitrogen fixation and prospects for increasing its importance in an agricultural setting. Biological nitrogen fixation is the conversion of atmospheric N2to NH3, a form that can be used by plants. However, the process is restricted to bacteria and archaea and does not occur in eukaryotes. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation is part of a mutualistic relationship in which plants provide a niche and fixed carbon to bacteria in exchange for fixed nitrogen. This process is restricted mainly to legumes in agricultural systems, and there is considerable interest in exploring whether similar symbioses can be developed in nonlegumes, which produce the bulk of human food. We are at a juncture at which the fundamental understanding of biological nitrogen fixation has matured to a level that we can think about engineering symbiotic relationships using synthetic biology approaches. This minireview highlights the fundamental advances in our understanding of biological nitrogen fixation in the context of a blueprint for expanding symbiotic nitrogen fixation to a greater diversity of crop plants through synthetic biology.

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