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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2026

Estimating Sediment Denitrification Rates Using Cores and N2O Microsensors

Estimating Sediment Denitrification Rates Using Cores and N₂O Microsensors

Published on: December 6, 2018

Modeling the effect of copper availability on bacterial denitrification.

Hugh C Woolfenden¹, Andrew J Gates, Chris Bocking

¹School of Computing Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, U.K.

Microbiologyopen

|August 6, 2013

Summary

Low copper impairs nitrous oxide reductase in denitrifying bacteria, increasing greenhouse gas emissions. A new mathematical model quantifies this N2O release, aiding environmental impact assessments.

Keywords:

Bioreactor Michaelis-Menten kinetics Paracoccus denitrificans nitrous oxide reductases respiratory model

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Published on: October 7, 2020

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Environmental Science
Biochemistry

Background:

Denitrifying bacteria, like Paracoccus denitrificans, convert nitrate to dinitrogen gas through a pathway involving nitrous oxide (N2O).
The enzyme nitrous oxide reductase (Nos), dependent on copper, reduces N2O to dinitrogen.
Previous studies indicated decreased Nos efficiency and increased N2O emissions under low-copper conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop the first chemostat-based mathematical model of the anaerobic denitrification pathway.
To describe the pathway using Michaelis-Menten kinetics and published parameters.
To predict enzyme levels and metabolite dynamics, particularly under varying copper concentrations.

Main Methods:

Developed a chemostat-based mathematical model for anaerobic denitrification.
Utilized Michaelis-Menten kinetics and established kinetic parameters.
Validated model predictions against experimental data for pathway metabolites and enzyme levels.

Main Results:

The model accurately predicted steady-state enzyme levels, showing significantly reduced Nos levels in low-copper conditions.
Non-copper-dependent reductases remained largely unaffected by copper concentration.
Model simulations closely matched published experimental time courses for pathway metabolites.
The model quantitatively estimates N2O emissions based on copper concentration.

Conclusions:

Copper availability critically impacts nitrous oxide reductase activity in denitrification.
Reduced Nos levels under low-copper conditions lead to increased N2O emissions.
The developed mathematical model provides a valuable tool for predicting N2O release and understanding denitrification dynamics.