Towards establishing functional nitrogenase activities within plants.

Journal: Trends in biotechnology
Published Date: May 28, 2025

Abstract

Biological nitrogen fixation, catalyzed by nitrogenase, can convert atmospheric N₂ into NH₃ for plant growth. Legumes form symbioses with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, but non-legumes rely on excessive nitrogen fertilizers. Efforts to engineer nitrogenase in non-legumes face major challenges, including oxygen sensitivity, metal cluster assembly complexity, and high energy demands. Nonetheless, advances in synthetic biology, and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven design - shown by partial nitrogenase reconstitution in Escherichia coli and yeast - offer promising solutions. Engineering nitrogenase in yeast mitochondria under low-oxygen conditions also helps circumvent oxygen constraints. Fully overcoming energy costs and feedback loops responsive to nitrogen levels could yield nitrogen-fixing crops, transforming sustainable agriculture and ensuring global food security. Such breakthroughs would reduce fertilizer dependence, cut pollution, and stabilize yields in diverse farming systems.

Authors

  • Fang Liu
    The First Clinical Medical College of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi Province, China.
  • Zehong Zhao
    State Key Laboratory of Seed Innovation, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
  • Alisdair R Fernie
    Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Muehlenberg 1, Potsdam-Golm, 14476, Germany.
  • Youjun Zhang
    Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, PR China. Electronic address: zhangyoujun@caas.cn.

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