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H2 cycling in N2 fixation: Past, present, and future outlook

  • Chapter
Nitrogen Fixation

Abstract

H2 production by nitrogenase is a major factor limiting the efficiency of biological N2 fixation. This production appears to be an integral part of the reaction mechanism leading to the reduction of N2 (i.e., N2 reduction by nitrogenase cannot occur in the absence of H2 production) and it would appear unlikely that this inefficiency can be improved at the source. The H2 produced by nitrogenase can either be lost to the environment or oxidized by hydrogenase. H2 oxidation typically benefits the system and results in an increased efficiency of N2 fixation. This process of H2 production by nitrogenase followed by H2 oxidation via hydrogenase is referred to as “hydrogen cycling”. The purpose of this chapter is to provide an historical account of the major accomplishments which have led to our current view of H2 cycling in N2 fixing microorganisms. Such an account will also serve to focus attention on the contributions of Dr. Harold Evans and his colleagues during the last 15 years of rapid development in this field.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Nitrogen Fixation Research, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331, USA

    Daniel J. Arp

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  1. Daniel J. Arp
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Peter M. Gresshoff L. Evans Roth Gary Stacey William E. Newton

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© 1990 Routledge, Chapman & Hall, Inc.

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Arp, D.J. (1990). H2 cycling in N2 fixation: Past, present, and future outlook. In: Gresshoff, P.M., Roth, L.E., Stacey, G., Newton, W.E. (eds) Nitrogen Fixation. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-6432-0_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-6432-0_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-6434-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-6432-0

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