Looking for classes? Ksquare Career Institute, Bengaluru →
For its action, nitrogenase requires
A
Super oxygen radicals
B
High input of energy
C
Light
D
$Mn^{2+}$
Detailed Solution
Nitrogenase is the Mo-Fe protein enzyme that reduces atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia.
The reaction is: $N_2 + 8e^- + 8H^+ + 16ATP \rightarrow 2NH_3 + H_2 + 16ADP + 16P_i$
Thus the synthesis of ammonia needs a very high input of energy: 8 ATP for each $NH_3$ produced, obtained from the respiration of the host cells.
Nitrogenase is highly sensitive to molecular oxygen and needs anaerobic conditions (leghaemoglobin acts as an oxygen scavenger), so oxygen radicals are harmful to it.
It does not need light, and its metal cofactors are molybdenum and iron, not $Mn^{2+}$.
Hence nitrogenase requires a high input of energy.
The reaction is: $N_2 + 8e^- + 8H^+ + 16ATP \rightarrow 2NH_3 + H_2 + 16ADP + 16P_i$
Thus the synthesis of ammonia needs a very high input of energy: 8 ATP for each $NH_3$ produced, obtained from the respiration of the host cells.
Nitrogenase is highly sensitive to molecular oxygen and needs anaerobic conditions (leghaemoglobin acts as an oxygen scavenger), so oxygen radicals are harmful to it.
It does not need light, and its metal cofactors are molybdenum and iron, not $Mn^{2+}$.
Hence nitrogenase requires a high input of energy.