biostudies-literaturePalatinszky MAustrian Science Fund FWFEuropean Research Council105-8https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC4539577biostudies-literatureUnknown524(7563)Ammonia- and nitrite-oxidizing microorganisms are collectively responsible for the aerobic oxidation of ammonia via nitrite to nitrate and have essential roles in the global biogeochemical nitrogen cycle. The physiology of nitrifiers has been intensively studied, and urea and ammonia are the only recognized energy sources that promote the aerobic growth of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and archaea. Here we report the aerobic growth of a pure culture of the ammonia-oxidizing thaumarchaeote Nitrososphaera gargensis using cyanate as the sole source of energy and reductant; to our knowledge, the first organism known to do so. Cyanate, a potentially important source of reduced nitrogen in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, is converted to ammonium and carbon dioxide in Nitrososphaera gargensis byNatureCyanate as an energy source for nitrifiers.PMC4539577P 26127294343Han PWagner MBerry DJehmlich NPogoda MGalushko ADaims HPalatinszky Mvon Bergen MKoch HLagkouvardos IHerbold CKarst SMfalseCyanate as an energy source for nitrifiers.Ammonia- and nitrite-oxidizing microorganisms are collectively responsible for the aerobic oxidation of ammonia via nitrite to nitrate and have essential roles in the global biogeochemical nitrogen cycle. The physiology of nitrifiers has been intensively studied, and urea and ammonia are the only recognized energy sources that promote the aerobic growth of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and archaea. Here we report the aerobic growth of a pure culture of the ammonia-oxidizing thaumarchaeote Nitrososphaera gargensis using cyanate as the sole source of energy and reductant; to our knowledge, the first organism known to do so. Cyanate, a potentially important source of reduced nitrogen in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, is converted to ammonium and carbon dioxide in Nitrososphaera gargensis by2015-01-01T00:00:00Z2015 Aug2025-04-05T12:12:55.662Z2019-03-27T01:56:56ZS-EPMC45395772622203110.1038/nature14856