Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2026
09:49
Prospecting Microbial Strains for Bioremediation and Probiotics Development for Metaorganism Research and Preservation
Published on: October 31, 2019
Nitrogen fixation and nitrogen transformations in marine symbioses.
Cara L Fiore1, Jessica K Jarett, Nathan D Olson
1Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824, USA.
Trends in Microbiology
|August 3, 2010
Summary
Marine organisms like corals and sponges host nitrogen-fixing bacteria in nutrient-poor waters. These symbiotic relationships are crucial for nitrogen cycling and understanding marine ecosystems.
Area of Science:
- Marine microbiology
- Symbiotic relationships
- Biogeochemical cycles
Background:
- Nitrogen is essential for marine life, often scarce in environments like coral reefs.
- Marine organisms have evolved symbiotic partnerships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
- Some symbioses also involve microbes performing nitrification and denitrification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of marine symbioses involving nitrogen transformations.
- To highlight the diversity of prokaryotic symbionts and their eukaryotic hosts.
- To identify future research directions in marine microbial ecology.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing scientific literature.
- Analysis of molecular genetic approaches.
- Integration of other analytical techniques.
Main Results:
- Prokaryotes involved in nitrogen fixation are symbionts in diverse marine eukaryotes (shipworms, diatoms, corals, sponges).
- Molecular and analytical techniques reveal insights into symbiont diversity.
- Understanding of host-symbiont relationships has advanced.
Conclusions:
- Marine symbioses play a vital role in nitrogen cycling.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate these complex interactions.
- Future studies should focus on symbiont diversity and host-symbiont dynamics.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:26Microbes and the Nitrogen Cycle
The nitrogen cycle is a complex biogeochemical process critical to maintaining the balance of nitrogenous compounds in ecosystems. This cycle involves multiple microbial-mediated transformations through which nitrogen changes oxidation states, supporting essential ecological functions and contributing to plant and microbial growth.Nitrogen Fixation and AmmonificationNitrogen fixation initiates the cycle by converting inert atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into bioavailable ammonia (NH₃), a process...
01:22Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation
Nitrogen is an essential element in biological systems, forming a crucial component of proteins, nucleic acids, and other cellular constituents. Many bacteria and archaea acquire nitrogen in the form of nitrate (NO₃⁻) or ammonia (NH₃), which are then assimilated into biomolecules through specific enzymatic pathways.Assimilatory Nitrate ReductionWhen nitrate enters the cell, it undergoes a two-step reduction process known as assimilatory nitrate reduction. Initially, the enzyme nitrate reductase...
01:20Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism
Nitrogen is a very important element for life because it is a major constituent of proteins and nucleic acids. It is a macronutrient, and in nature, it is recycled from organic compounds and stored in the form of ammonia, ammonium ions, nitrate, nitrite, or nitrogen gas by many metabolic processes. Many of these metabolic processes are carried out only by prokaryotes.
The largest pool of nitrogen available in the terrestrial ecosystem is gaseous nitrogen (N2) from the air, but this nitrogen...
The largest pool of nitrogen available in the terrestrial ecosystem is gaseous nitrogen (N2) from the air, but this nitrogen...
01:49The Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen atoms, present in all proteins and DNA, are recycled between abiotic and biotic components of the ecosystem. However, the primary form of nitrogen on Earth is nitrogen gas, which cannot be used by most animals and plants. Thus, nitrogen gas must first be converted into a usable form by nitrogen-fixing bacteria before it can be cycled through other living organisms. The use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers and animal waste products in human agriculture has greatly influenced the...
01:15Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs
Chemolithotrophs are microorganisms that obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic molecules such as hydrogen gas (H₂), ammonia (NH₃), reduced sulfur compounds (H₂S, S²⁻), and ferrous iron (Fe²⁺). Unlike heterotrophic organisms that rely on organic carbon, chemolithotrophs transfer electrons from these inorganic donors to the electron transport chain (ETC), generating a proton motive force (PMF) that drives ATP synthesis through oxidative phosphorylation. However, because inorganic electron donors...
01:28Carbon-dioxide Fixation
Carbon dioxide fixation in prokaryotes enables the assimilation of inorganic carbon into organic molecules, supporting biosynthetic pathways, sustaining ecosystems, and contributing to the global carbon cycle. It also has industrial applications in carbon capture and bioproduct synthesis. Autotrophic organisms rely on this process to utilize CO₂ as a carbon source in diverse environments.The Calvin CycleThe Calvin cycle is the most widespread carbon fixation mechanism, primarily used by...