Quantitative analysis of amoA mRNA expression as a new biomarker of ammonia oxidation activities in a complex microbial community.
OBJECTIVE
To quantitatively analyse the changes to amoA mRNA (ammonia mono-oxygenase encoding mRNA) profiles in response to a change in ammonia oxidation activity in a complex microbial community.


RESULTS
The amoA mRNA levels in both a batch-mode incubation and a continuously fed nitrification reactor were determined by real-time reverse transcription-PCR analysis. The amoA mRNA level changed rapidly in response to the change in environmental conditions which affect ammonia oxidation activity.


CONCLUSIONS
An increase in amoA mRNA level can be detected within 1-2 h in response to an initiation of cell activity whereas a decrease in amoA mRNA level is detected within 24 h in response to a cessation of activity.


CONCLUSIONS
amoA mRNA, which shows sensitive response to ammonia oxidation activity, can be used as a biomarker of ammonia oxidation activity in wastewater treatment processes where many bacterial species exist.
Aoi
Y
Y
Department of Chemical Engineering, Waseda University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan. yoshiteruaoi@toki.waseda.jp
Masaki
Y
Y
Tsuneda
S
S
Hirata
A
A
D000641:Ammonia / Q000378:metabolism; D001419:Bacteria / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics*; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014871:Water Microbiology; D018508:Water Purification
D015415:Biomarkers; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000641:Ammonia; D010088:Oxidoreductases; C045582:ammonia monooxygenase