Distribution analysis of hydrogenases in surface waters of marine and freshwater environments.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Surface waters of aquatic environments have been shown to both evolve and consume hydrogen and the ocean is estimated to be the principal natural source. In some marine habitats, H(2) evolution and uptake are clearly due to biological activity, while contributions of abiotic sources must be considered in others. Until now the only known biological process involved in H(2) metabolism in marine environments is nitrogen fixation.

Principal findings

We analyzed marine and freshwater environments for the presence and distribution of genes of all known hydrogenases, the enzymes involved in biological hydrogen turnover. The total genomes and the available marine metagenome datasets were searched for hydrogenase sequences. Furthermore, we isolated DNA from samples from th

SUBMITTER: Barz M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2974642 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature