Mitigating release of the potent greenhouse gas N(2)O from the nitrogen cycle - could enzymic regulation hold the key?
When faced with a shortage of oxygen, many bacterial species use nitrate to support respiration via the process of denitrification. This takes place extensively in nitrogen-rich soils and generates the gaseous products nitric oxide (NO), nitrous oxide (N(2)O) and dinitrogen (N(2)). The denitrifying bacteria protect themselves from the endogenous cytotoxic NO produced by converting it to N(2)O, which can be released into the atmosphere. However, N(2)O is a potent greenhouse gas and hence the activity of the enzyme that breaks down N(2)O has a crucial role in restricting its atmospheric levels. Here, we review the current understanding of the process by which N(2)O is produced and destroyed and discuss the potential for feeding this into new approaches for combating N(2)O release.
Richardson
David
D
Centre for Molecular Structure and Biochemistry (CMSB), School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK. D.Richardson@uea.ac.uk
Felgate
Heather
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Watmough
Nick
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Thomson
Andrew
A
Baggs
Elizabeth
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D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism
D000393:Air Pollutants; D010088:Oxidoreductases; C022763:nitrous oxide reductase; D009609:Nitrous Oxide