The Chemistry and Biochemistry of Nitrogen Fixation (Paperback, 1971)

1 The Background.- 1.1 Introduction.- 1.2 Properties of the Enzyme System in Azotobacter.- 1.3 The Properties of the Enzyme System in Leguminous Plants.- 1.4 The Chemical Pathway.- 2 Abiological Nitrogen Fixation.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 The Properties of Dinitrogen.- 2.3 Modes of Reaction of Dinitrogen.- 2.4 A Possible Mechanism for Biological N2-Fixation.- 3 Dinitrogen Complexes and Nitrogen Fixation.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Terminal-Dinitrogen Complexes.- 3.3 Bridging-Dinitrogen Complexes.- 4 Fixation by Free-Living Micro-Organisms: Enzymology.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Extraction, Purification and Properties of the Enzymes.- 4.3 Cofactors in N2 Fixation.- 4.4 Reactions Catalyzed by Nitrogenase.- 4.5 Inhibitors of N2 Fixation.- 4.6 Kinetics of N2 Fixation.- 4.7 Metabolic Schemes for N2 Fixation.- 5 Fixation By Free-Living Microbes: Physiology.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 The Reductive Character of N2-Fixation.- 5.3 The Need for ATP.- 5.4 The Need for Iron and Molybdenum.- 5.5 Conclusion: Some Unresolved Problems.- 6 Physiological Chemistry of Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation by Legumes.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 The Symbiotic Association.- 6.3 Specific Mineral Requirements.- 6.4 Leghemoglobin.- 6.5 The Nitrogenase System.- 6.6 Electron Transport.- 6.7 Conclusions 236 Addendum.- 7 Physiological Chemistry of Non-Leguminous Symbiosis.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Biological Aspects of Non-Leguminous Symbiosis.- 7.3 Physiological and Biochemical Aspects of Nitrogen Fixation in True Root-Nodule Symbiosis.- 7.4 Physiological and Biochemical Aspects of Nitrogen Fixation in Superficial Root-Nodule Symbiosis.- 7.5 Physiological and Biochemical Aspects of Foliar Nitrogen Fixation.- 7.6 Physiological Ecology of N2 Fixation by Non-Legumes.- 7.7 Speculations on the Evolution of Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation in Root-Nodule and Foliar Symbiosis of Non-Legumes.- Appendix 1 A Review of Research by Soviet Scientists on the Biochemistry of Nitrogen Fixation.- A1.1 Introduction.- A1.2 The Nitrogenase Reaction.- A1.3 Enzymes Associated with Nitrogen Fixation: Electron Transport.- A1.4 Mechanisms of the Nitrogenase Reaction and the Nature of the Active Site.- A1.5 Separation of Nitrogenase into its Component Fractions.- A1.7 Conclusion.- Appendix 2 The Acetylene Test for Nitrogenase.- A2.1 Introduction.- A2.2 Equipment.- A2.3 Gases.- A2.4 Tests of Soil, Water and Tissue Samples.- A2.5 Tests of Aerobic Micro-Organisms.- A2.6 Tests of Facultative and Obligate Anaerobes.- A2.7 Tests of Enzyme Preparations.- A2.8 Interpretation.