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Related Concept Videos

The Nitrogen Cycle01:49

The Nitrogen Cycle

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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...
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What are Biogeochemical Cycles?00:54

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The most common elements in organic molecules, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus, are only available in the ecosystem in limited amounts. Therefore, these nutrients must be recycled through both biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem, in processes generally called biogeochemical cycles.
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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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Protein Networks02:26

Protein Networks

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An organism can have thousands of different proteins, and these proteins must cooperate to ensure the health of an organism. Proteins bind to other proteins and form complexes to carry out their functions. Many proteins interact with multiple other proteins creating a complex network of protein interactions.
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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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Network Covalent Solids02:18

Network Covalent Solids

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Network covalent solids contain a three-dimensional network of covalently bonded atoms as found in the crystal structures of nonmetals like diamond, graphite, silicon, and some covalent compounds, such as silicon dioxide (sand) and silicon carbide (carborundum, the abrasive on sandpaper). Many minerals have networks of covalent bonds.
To break or to melt a covalent network solid, covalent bonds must be broken. Because covalent bonds are relatively strong, covalent network solids are typically...
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Visualizing Methane-Cycling Microbial Dynamics in Coastal Wetlands
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Visualizing Methane-Cycling Microbial Dynamics in Coastal Wetlands

Published on: January 31, 2025

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The microbial nitrogen-cycling network.

Marcel M M Kuypers1, Hannah K Marchant1, Boran Kartal1

  • 1Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany.

Nature Reviews. Microbiology
|February 6, 2018
PubMed
Summary

Microorganisms drive essential nitrogen transformations, converting atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms like ammonium and nitrate. This review details microbial nitrogen cycling, its pathways, and its environmental and industrial significance.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Microbiology
  • Biogeochemical Cycles
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Nitrogen is vital for life, but atmospheric dinitrogen is largely inaccessible to organisms.
  • Bioavailable nitrogen forms (ammonium, nitrate) are crucial for growth and depend on microbial processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of the microbial nitrogen-cycling network.
  • To highlight novel processes, biochemical pathways, and involved microorganisms.
  • To discuss the environmental and industrial relevance of microbial nitrogen cycling.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of microbial nitrogen transformations.
  • Analysis of biochemical pathways in nitrogen cycling.
  • Synthesis of information on microbial communities involved in nitrogen cycling.

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Main Results:

  • Detailed overview of the microbial nitrogen-cycling network.
  • Identification of novel nitrogen transformation processes.
  • Elucidation of biochemical mechanisms and microbial players.
  • Assessment of environmental impacts and industrial applications.

Conclusions:

  • Microbial nitrogen cycling is a complex and vital network essential for life.
  • Understanding these microbial processes offers potential for environmental remediation and industrial innovation.