Distribution of nitrogen fixation and nitrogenase-like sequences amongst microbial genomes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The metabolic capacity for nitrogen fixation is known to be present in several prokaryotic species scattered across taxonomic groups. Experimental detection of nitrogen fixation in microbes requires species-specific conditions, making it difficult to obtain a comprehensive census of this trait. The recent and rapid increase in the availability of microbial genome sequences affords novel opportunities to re-examine the occurrence and distribution of nitrogen fixation genes. The current practice for computational prediction of nitrogen fixation is to use the presence of the nifH and/or nifD genes.

Results

Based on a careful comparison of the repertoire of nitrogen fixation genes in known diazotroph species we propose a new criterion for computational prediction of n

SUBMITTER: Dos Santos PC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3464626 | biostudies-literature | 2012 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature