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Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Microplot Design and Plant and Soil Sample Preparation for 15Nitrogen Analysis
Published on: May 10, 2020
The functional analysis of NirBD in microorganisms and the efficacies of NirBD on the soil nitrogen storage and N2O
Yidan Peng1, Tengxia He1,2, Qimin Zhou1
1Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation in Mountainous Region (Ministry of Education), Guizhou Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Guizhou University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, 550025, China.
Abstract:
The siroheme-containing nitrite reductase (NirBD), which is encoded by the nirBD gene, is a functional enzyme in the nitrogen cycle. The NirBD enzyme can regulate N2O release through the two distinct pathways of assimilatory nitrate/nitrite reduction to biomass and dissimilatory nitrate/nitrite reduction to ammonium. Therefore, a thorough comprehension of the function of NirBD in microorganisms can enable us to better understanding the contributions for nitrogen retention and N2O emission. However, the knowledge of the functions and expression mechanisms of nirBD gene across different microorganisms remains limited. This review synthesized the current research on the phylogenetic distribution and catalytic versatility of NirBD in fungi, bacteria, and actinomycetes. The contributions of NirBD for nitrogen retention and N2O emission were extensively discussed under anaerobic and aerobic conditions. The expression mechanism of NirBD was demonstrated. The factors that affect the expression amount of the NirBD enzyme in microorganisms were clarified systematically. This review not only elucidated the unique role of NirBD in the nitrogen metabolism but also provided a critical theoretical foundation for developing future strategies to enhance soil nitrogen fertility and mitigate N2O emissions.
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