Molecular Hydrogen, a Neglected Key Driver of Soil Biogeochemical Processes.

ABSTRACT: The atmosphere of the early Earth is hypothesized to have been rich in reducing gases such as hydrogen (H₂). H₂ has been proposed as the first electron donor leading to ATP synthesis due to its ubiquity throughout the biosphere as well as its ability to easily diffuse through microbial cells and its low activation energy requirement. Even today, hydrogenase enzymes enabling the production and oxidation of H₂ are found in thousands of genomes spanning the three domains of life across aquatic, terrestrial, and even host-associated ecosystems. Even though H₂ has already been proposed as a universal growth and maintenance energy source, its potential contribution as a driver of biogeochemical cycles has received little attention. Here, we bridge this

SUBMITTER: Piche-Choquette S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6414374 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature