Nitrifying bacteria

Overview

Diagram of ammonia oxidation by nitrifying bacteria

Nitrifying bacteria are a diverse group of microorganisms that play a crucial role in the nitrogen cycle by converting ammonia into nitrate. This process is essential for maintaining the balance of nitrogen in the environment and is critical for soil fertility and aquatic ecosystems.

Types of Nitrifying Bacteria

Nitrifying bacteria are primarily divided into two groups based on the specific chemical transformation they perform:

Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB)

Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria are responsible for the first step of nitrification, which is the oxidation of ammonia (NH_) to nitrite (NO__). This process is known as ammonia oxidation. The most well-known genera of AOB include Nitrosomonas and Nitrosococcus.

Nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB)

Nitrite-oxidizing bacteria carry out the second step of nitrification, converting nitrite (NO__) into nitrate (NO__). Common genera of NOB include Nitrobacter and Nitrospira.

Metabolic Processes

Nitrifying bacteria are chemolithoautotrophs, meaning they obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic compounds and use carbon dioxide as their carbon source. The energy derived from the oxidation of ammonia or nitrite is used to fix carbon dioxide into organic compounds.

Ammonia Oxidation

The process of ammonia oxidation involves the enzyme ammonia monooxygenase, which catalyzes the conversion of ammonia to hydroxylamine, followed by further oxidation to nitrite by hydroxylamine oxidoreductase.

Nitrite Oxidation

Nitrite oxidation is catalyzed by the enzyme nitrite oxidoreductase, which converts nitrite to nitrate, completing the nitrification process.

Environmental Importance

Nitrifying bacteria are essential for the biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen. They help in the removal of excess ammonia from the environment, which can be toxic to plants and animals. In wastewater treatment plants, nitrifying bacteria are used to reduce ammonia levels in effluent before it is released into natural water bodies.

Challenges and Considerations

Nitrifying bacteria are sensitive to environmental conditions such as pH, temperature, and the presence of inhibitors like heavy metals and organic compounds. Maintaining optimal conditions is crucial for their activity in both natural and engineered systems.

Related Pages

• Nitrogen cycle
• Ammonia oxidation
• Nitrosomonas
• Nitrobacter
• Chemolithoautotroph