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Related Concept Videos

Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation01:22

Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation

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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...
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Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs01:15

Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs

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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.
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Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism01:20

Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism

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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...
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1° Amines to Diazonium or Aryldiazonium Salts: Diazotization with NaNO2 Overview01:26

1° Amines to Diazonium or Aryldiazonium Salts: Diazotization with NaNO2 Overview

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Nitrous acid and nitric acids are two types of acids containing nitrogen, among which nitrous acid is weaker than nitric acid. Nitrous acid with a pKa value of 3.37 ionizes in water to give a nitrite ion and the hydronium ion.
The nitrous acid is unstable. Hence, it is formed in situ from a solution of sodium nitrite and cold aqueous acids such as hydrochloric or sulfuric acid. In an acidic solution, the –OH group of nitrous acid undergoes protonation to give oxonium ion, followed by...
4.1K
Preparation of Nitriles01:12

Preparation of Nitriles

2.8K
One of the common methods to prepare nitriles is the dehydration of amides. This method requires strong dehydrating agents like phosphorous pentoxide or boiling acetic anhydride for converting amides to nitriles. Another reagent namely, thionyl chloride also accomplishes the dehydration of amides, where amide acts as a nucleophile. The first step of the mechanism involves the nucleophilic attack by the amide on the thionyl chloride to form an intermediate. In the next step, the electron pairs...
2.8K
1° Amines to Diazonium or Aryldiazonium Salts: Diazotization with NaNO2 Mechanism01:37

1° Amines to Diazonium or Aryldiazonium Salts: Diazotization with NaNO2 Mechanism

5.3K
Nitrous acid is a relatively weak and unstable acid prepared in situ by the reaction of sodium nitrite and cold, dilute hydrochloric acid. In an acidic solution, the nitrous acid undergoes protonation when it loses water to form a nitrosonium ion—an electrophile. Nitrous acid reacts with primary amines to give diazonium salts. The reaction is called diazotization of primary amines.
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Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery
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Cyanate as an energy source for nitrifiers.

Marton Palatinszky1, Craig Herbold1, Nico Jehmlich2

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Division of Microbial Ecology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria.

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This study reveals that the ammonia-oxidizing thaumarchaeote Nitrososphaera gargensis can grow using cyanate as its sole energy source, a previously unknown metabolic capability. This finding highlights cyanate

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Estimating Sediment Denitrification Rates Using Cores and N2O Microsensors
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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Environmental Science
  • Biogeochemistry

Background:

  • Ammonia- and nitrite-oxidizing microorganisms are crucial for the global nitrogen cycle.
  • Traditionally, ammonia and urea are the only known energy sources for aerobic growth of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and archaea.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential for aerobic growth of ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms using novel energy sources.
  • To identify and characterize the metabolic pathways involved in utilizing these new energy sources.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and cultivation of Nitrososphaera gargensis using cyanate as the sole energy source.
  • Enzymatic assays to determine cyanate conversion pathways.
  • Metagenomic screening of environmental samples to assess the prevalence of relevant genes.

Main Results:

  • Aerobic growth of Nitrososphaera gargensis was achieved using cyanate as the sole energy and reductant source.
  • A cyanase enzyme was identified in N. gargensis, responsible for converting cyanate to ammonium.
  • Co-culture experiments demonstrated reciprocal feeding between ammonia-oxidizing and nitrite-oxidizing microorganisms utilizing cyanate.

Conclusions:

  • Nitrososphaera gargensis exhibits unexpected metabolic versatility by utilizing cyanate for growth.
  • Cyanate represents a previously unrecognized but important compound in environmental nitrogen cycling.
  • The widespread distribution of cyanase genes suggests a significant role for cyanate metabolism in diverse ecosystems.