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Related Concept Videos

Sulfur Assimilation01:20

Sulfur Assimilation

48
Sulfur is an essential element in biological systems, contributing to synthesizing key biomolecules, including amino acids such as cysteine and methionine, and cofactors such as coenzyme A and biotin. Microorganisms primarily assimilate sulfur as sulfate (SO₄²⁻) from the environment, which must undergo a series of biochemical transformations before it can be incorporated into cellular components. As sulfate is highly oxidized, it must undergo assimilatory sulfate reduction to...
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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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Precipitation and Co-precipitation01:17

Precipitation and Co-precipitation

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Precipitation and coprecipitation methods can be used to separate a mixture of ions in a solution. In qualitative inorganic analysis, ions that form sparingly soluble precipitates with the same reagent are separated based on the differences in solubility products. For example, consider the separation of Cu(II) and Fe(II) ions by precipitation as insoluble sulfides. First, copper(II) sulfide is precipitated by the addition of acidic H2S, where the dissociation of H2S is suppressed. Adding H2S...
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Ionic Strength: Effects on Chemical Equilibria01:19

Ionic Strength: Effects on Chemical Equilibria

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The addition of an inert ionic compound increases the solubility of a sparingly soluble salt. For example, adding potassium nitrate to a saturated solution of calcium sulfate significantly enhances the solubility of calcium sulfate. Le Châtelier's principle cannot predict this shift in the equilibrium. Instead, this could be explained in terms of changes in the effective concentration of the ions in solution in the presence of added inert salt.
In this solution, the primary...
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Acids, Bases and Neutralization Reactions03:26

Acids, Bases and Neutralization Reactions

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An acid-base reaction is one in which a hydrogen ion, H+, is transferred from one chemical species to another. Such reactions are of central importance to numerous natural and technological processes, ranging from the chemical transformations within cells or lakes and oceans to the industrial-scale production of fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, and other substances essential to the society.
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Carbon-dioxide Fixation01:28

Carbon-dioxide Fixation

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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...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 7, 2025

Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O
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Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O

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Simultaneous sulfate and nitrate reduction in coastal sediments.

O M Bourceau1, T Ferdelman1, G Lavik1

  • 1Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstraße 1, 28359, Bremen, Germany.

ISME Communications
|March 7, 2023
PubMed
Summary

Coastal microbes switch respiratory strategies, linking sulfur and nitrogen cycles. Sulfate-reducing bacteria perform dissimilatory nitrite reduction to ammonium (DNRA), retaining nitrogen and potentially worsening coastal eutrophication.

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Development of Sulfidogenic Sludge from Marine Sediments and Trichloroethylene Reduction in an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor
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Estimating Sediment Denitrification Rates Using Cores and N2O Microsensors
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Last Updated: Aug 7, 2025

Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O
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Development of Sulfidogenic Sludge from Marine Sediments and Trichloroethylene Reduction in an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor
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Estimating Sediment Denitrification Rates Using Cores and N2O Microsensors
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Estimating Sediment Denitrification Rates Using Cores and N2O Microsensors

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Area of Science:

  • Marine microbial ecology
  • Biogeochemical cycles
  • Coastal sediment processes

Background:

  • Coastal sandy sediments exhibit oscillating redox conditions, supporting microbial communities with dual respiration capabilities (oxygen and nitrate).
  • This dual respiration enhances organic matter remineralization, nitrogen loss, and nitrous oxide emissions.
  • The extent of overlap between dissimilatory nitrate and sulfate respiration in these environments remained unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the co-occurrence of dissimilatory nitrate and sulfate respiration in intertidal sand flat sediments.
  • To explore the link between dissimilatory nitrite reduction to ammonium (DNRA) and sulfate reduction rates.
  • To elucidate the microbial mechanisms connecting nitrogen and sulfur cycles under oscillating redox conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Field sampling of intertidal sand flat sediments.
  • Measurement of sulfate and nitrate respiration rates.
  • Correlation analysis between DNRA and sulfate reduction rates.
  • Transcriptomic analysis of microbial communities, focusing on the nrfA gene.

Main Results:

  • Sulfate and nitrate respiration were found to co-occur in surface sediments.
  • Strong correlations were observed between DNRA rates and sulfate reduction rates.
  • Transcriptomic data indicated that the nrfA gene (DNRA) was associated with sulfate-reducing microorganisms, not sulfide-oxidizing ones.
  • A shift in microbial respiratory strategy from denitrification to DNRA was suggested upon nitrate supply.

Conclusions:

  • Microorganisms traditionally identified as sulfate reducers play a key role in DNRA in oscillating redox environments.
  • This microbial behavior links sulfur and nitrogen cycles, potentially leading to increased ammonium retention via DNRA and reduced denitrification.
  • The shift to DNRA by sulfate reducers retains ammonium, exacerbating coastal eutrophication, despite not altering nitrous oxide production by denitrifiers.