Nitric oxide-dependent anaerobic ammonium oxidation.

ABSTRACT: Nitric oxide (NO) has important functions in biology and atmospheric chemistry as a toxin, signaling molecule, ozone depleting agent and the precursor of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N₂O). Although NO is a potent oxidant, and was available on Earth earlier than oxygen, it is unclear whether NO can be used by microorganisms for growth. Anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) bacteria couple nitrite reduction to ammonium oxidation with NO and hydrazine as intermediates, and produce N₂ and nitrate. Here, we show that the anammox bacterium Kuenenia stuttgartiensis is able to grow in the absence of nitrite by coupling ammonium oxidation to NO reduction, and produce only N₂. Under these growth conditions, the transcription of proteins necessary for NO generat

SUBMITTER: Hu Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6423088 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature