The Nitrogenase Complex: Structural Mechanism and Challenges in Eukaryotic Expression
Abstract
The nitrogenase enzyme complex has a pivotal role in the nitrogen cycle by converting nitrogen gas into ammonia. This complex is found in certain bacteria and archaea that reside beneath the soil and have symbiotic relationships with some plants. In this mini review, the exact working mechanism of this biological machine was outlined. Recent structural discoveries were emphasized. Beyond its structure, advancements in synthetic biology for this complex were explored. The limitations and challenges of producing whole enzymes in eukaryotic systems were discussed. Additionally, some patents related to the eukaryotic expression of this enzyme were examined. Ultimately, the potential of engineering eukaryotic cells to create a sustainable and environmentally friendly future for farming was demonstrated.
Keywords
References
- Allen, R. S., Tilbrook, K., Warden, A. C., Campbell, P. C., Rolland, V., Singh, S. P., & Wood, C. C. (2017). Expression of 16 nitrogenase proteins within the plant mitochondrial matrix. Frontiers in Plant Science, 8, 287. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.00287
- Baysal, C., Burén, S., He, W., Jiang, X., Capell, T., Rubio, L. M., & Christou, P. (2022). Functional expression of the nitrogenase Fe protein in transgenic rice. Communications Biology, 5(1), 1006. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-03921-9
- Burén, S., Pratt, K., Jiang, X., Guo, Y., Jimenez-Vicente, E., Echavarri-Erasun, C., Dean, D. R., Saaem, I., Gordon, D. B., & Voigt, C. A. (2019). Biosynthesis of the nitrogenase active-site cofactor precursor NifB-co in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 116(50), 25078–25086. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1904903116
- Cuevas Zuviría, B., Detemple, F., Amritkar, K., Garcia, A. K., Seefeldt, L., Einsle, O., & Kaçar, B. (2025). Structural evolution of nitrogenase over 3 billion years. ELife, 14, RP105613. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.105613
- Dehua Zhao, Christopher A. Voigt, & Michael Joseph Smanski. (2024). Directed evolution of synthetic gene cluster (Patent US11946162).
- Dixon, R. A., & Postgate, J. R. (1972). Genetic transfer of nitrogen fixation from Klebsiella pneumoniae to Escherichia coli. Nature, 237(5350), 102–103. https://doi.org/10.1038/237102a0
- Dixon, R., & Kahn, D. (2004). Genetic regulation of biological nitrogen fixation. In Nature Reviews Microbiology (Vol. 2, Number 8, pp. 621–631). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro954
- Dobrzyńska, K., Pérez-González, A., Echavarri-Erasun, C., Coroian, D., Salinero-Lanzarote, A., Veldhuizen, M., Dean, D. R., Burén, S., & Rubio, L. M. (2024). Nitrogenase cofactor biosynthesis using proteins produced in mitochondria of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. MBio, 15(2), e03088-23. https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.03088-23
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Plant Biochemistry, Enzymes, Biochemistry and Cell Biology (Other)
Journal Section
Review
Publication Date
June 25, 2026
Submission Date
June 17, 2026
Acceptance Date
June 24, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 2 Number: 1
APA
Mamur, A., & Koşaca, M. (2026). The Nitrogenase Complex: Structural Mechanism and Challenges in Eukaryotic Expression. Smyrna Journal of Natural and Data Sciences, 2(1), 51-59. https://izlik.org/JA56WN94XL
AMA
1.Mamur A, Koşaca M. The Nitrogenase Complex: Structural Mechanism and Challenges in Eukaryotic Expression. Smyrna Journal of Natural and Data Sciences. 2026;2(1):51-59. https://izlik.org/JA56WN94XL
Chicago
Mamur, Ayliz, and Mehdi Koşaca. 2026. “The Nitrogenase Complex: Structural Mechanism and Challenges in Eukaryotic Expression”. Smyrna Journal of Natural and Data Sciences 2 (1): 51-59. https://izlik.org/JA56WN94XL.
EndNote
Mamur A, Koşaca M (June 1, 2026) The Nitrogenase Complex: Structural Mechanism and Challenges in Eukaryotic Expression. Smyrna Journal of Natural and Data Sciences 2 1 51–59.
IEEE
[1]A. Mamur and M. Koşaca, “The Nitrogenase Complex: Structural Mechanism and Challenges in Eukaryotic Expression”, Smyrna Journal of Natural and Data Sciences, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 51–59, June 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA56WN94XL
ISNAD
Mamur, Ayliz - Koşaca, Mehdi. “The Nitrogenase Complex: Structural Mechanism and Challenges in Eukaryotic Expression”. Smyrna Journal of Natural and Data Sciences 2/1 (June 1, 2026): 51-59. https://izlik.org/JA56WN94XL.
JAMA
1.Mamur A, Koşaca M. The Nitrogenase Complex: Structural Mechanism and Challenges in Eukaryotic Expression. Smyrna Journal of Natural and Data Sciences. 2026;2:51–59.
MLA
Mamur, Ayliz, and Mehdi Koşaca. “The Nitrogenase Complex: Structural Mechanism and Challenges in Eukaryotic Expression”. Smyrna Journal of Natural and Data Sciences, vol. 2, no. 1, June 2026, pp. 51-59, https://izlik.org/JA56WN94XL.
Vancouver
1.Ayliz Mamur, Mehdi Koşaca. The Nitrogenase Complex: Structural Mechanism and Challenges in Eukaryotic Expression. Smyrna Journal of Natural and Data Sciences [Internet]. 2026 Jun. 1;2(1):51-9. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA56WN94XL