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Related Concept Videos

Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation01:22

Inorganic 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...
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Microbes 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...
Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism01:20

Overview 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...
Environmental Applications of Microorganisms01:30

Environmental Applications of Microorganisms

Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...
Microbial Nutrition01:28

Microbial Nutrition

Organisms exhibit remarkable metabolic diversity, categorized based on how they acquire energy and carbon. These strategies enable survival in various ecological niches and are essential for maintaining energy flow and nutrient cycling within ecosystems.Energy and Carbon SourcesOrganisms are classified as phototrophs or chemotrophs based on energy acquisition. Phototrophs use light as their energy source, while chemotrophs rely on oxidizing chemical compounds. Further differentiation arises...
Amino Acid Biosynthetic Pathways01:29

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Amino acid biosynthesis is essential for cell growth, protein synthesis, and metabolic regulation. Cells generate essential and non-essential amino acids from metabolic intermediates to sustain vital biological functions. These intermediates originate from key metabolic pathways: glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and the pentose phosphate pathway. Important precursors include α-ketoglutarate, pyruvate, oxaloacetate, phosphoenolpyruvate, and erythrose-4-phosphate, which provide...

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Workflow Based on the Combination of Isotopic Tracer Experiments to Investigate Microbial Metabolism of Multiple Nutrient Sources
12:47

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Published on: January 22, 2018

Predicting microbial nitrogen pathways from basic principles.

Ingrid A van de Leemput1, Annelies J Veraart, Vasilis Dakos

  • 1Department of Environmental Sciences, Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands. ingrid.vandeleemput@wur.nl

Environmental Microbiology
|March 25, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

A new model simplifies nitrogen cycling by predicting microbial pathway rates based on geochemistry and energy yield. This approach explains natural variations and suggests new biochemical factors influencing pathway viability.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental microbiology
  • Biogeochemistry
  • Biochemical modeling

Background:

  • Nitrogen compound transformation involves complex microbial and geochemical processes.
  • Fully understanding these nitrogen cycling networks requires extensive experimental investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a simplified model predicting relative rates of nitrogen pathways.
  • To identify key factors governing the competition and viability of microbial pathways in nitrogen cycling.

Main Methods:

  • A predictive model based on stoichiometry and energy yield of redox reactions.
  • Simulation of competing pathways in hypothetical freshwater and marine sediments.
  • Analysis of model predictions against observed natural variations.

Main Results:

  • The model successfully predicted significant variations in natural nitrogen cycling based on basic principles.
  • Identified enzymatic costs and ammonium activation energy as critical barriers for pathway viability.
  • Predicted a novel nitrite dismutation pathway producing nitrate and dinitrogen gas.

Conclusions:

  • Basic geochemical and energetic principles can explain much of the observed variation in nitrogen cycling.
  • Enzymatic costs and ammonium activation energy are key biochemical factors influencing pathway selection.
  • The model offers a new perspective on nitrogen cycling dynamics and predicts undiscovered pathways.