(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Top Comments: Newly Discovered Algal Organelle Fixes Nitrogen [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2024-05-09 Here at Top Comments we strive to nourish community by rounding up some of the site's best, funniest, most mojo'd & most informative commentary, and we depend on your help!! If you see a comment by another Kossack that deserves wider recognition, please send it either to topcomments at gmail or to the Top Comments group mailbox by 9:30pm Eastern. Please please please include a few words about why you sent it in as well as your user name (even if you think we know it already :-)), so we can credit you with the find! Nitrogen is a necessary element for life on Earth, as nitrogen atoms are essential to form amino acids (which form proteins), nucleic acids (which form DNA and RNA), and various other biomolecules. However, much of the nitrogen on Earth is not naturally available for biological use, as it is present as elemental, diatomic nitrogen in the atmosphere. Because the two atoms in the nitrogen molecule are bound together by a covalent triple bond that is very hard to break, it’s difficult to get it to react with anything. Lightning can break that triple bond to form oxides of nitrogen (NO and NO 2 ), which is one form that living organisms can use. Additionally, given the importance of the element, it should come as no surprise that an enzyme, nitrogenase, evolved precisely for the purpose of taking nitrogen from the atmosphere and converting it into a form (ammonia) that can be easily incorporated into the molecules of life. The process of making inert nitrogen from the atmosphere into a biologically available form is called nitrogen fixation, and the forms of life that are capable of performing this task are microorganisms called diazatrophs. Diazatrophs can either live freely in the environment, or have a symbiotic relationship with a particular plant (such as soy beans) with the job of providing the plant with the nitrogen it needs to grow and thrive. In any case, the need for nitrogen for agricultural crops is why nitrogen-containing fertilizer is used extensively in farming. New research has revealed that the nitrogen-fixing alga Braarudosphaera bigelowii contains an organelle in which the nitrogen-fixing process takes place. (An organelle is the equivalent of an organ within a cell. While some organelles evolved within the cell, certain others started out as independent organisms that were later incorporated within larger cells to perform particular jobs necessary for the survival of the greater cell. Examples include mitochondria, which regulate energy use within cells, and chloroplasts in plant cells, where photosynthesis takes place. It’s almost certain that this newly discovered organelle is one of these captured early organisms.) This is the first new organelle discovered in quite some time, and the first ever whose job is to fix nitrogen. The organelle has been dubbed a nitroplast. B. bigelowii is a marine alga, and marine algae are difficult to study because they tend to be “finicky” to culture in the laboratory. However, there certainly must be other algae that have nitroplasts, and it will be interesting to see how common such algae are. Comments are below the fold. Top Comments (May 9, 2024): From Crashing Vor: I never though I'd nominate a RickRoll for a top comment, but bobinson proves there's a first time for everything. From annieli’s recommended post Did the brain worm sign a DNR? From elenacarlena: The snark is strong with this one. Another "devout Christian" convicted of child sex crimes whilst blaming the children. CyberMindGrrl's succinct response is priceless. From inkstainedwretch: IdleMindness replies to cmon in Danchi's diary. I have no kids, but I love all kids, and I'm ashamed of and scared of the world we are leaving them. Highlighted by oscarsmom: This comment by mjranum posted in Mark Sumner’s liveblog of Trump’s hush money/fraud trial. Top Mojo (May 8, 2024): Top Mojo is courtesy of mik! Click here for more on how Top Mojo works. Top Photos (May 8, 2024): Thanks to jotter (RIP) for creating it and elfling for restoring it! [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/5/9/2239884/-Top-Comments-Newly-Discovered-Algal-Organelle-Fixes-Nitrogen?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=trending&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/