Browsing by Author "Fabisik F"

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    Nitrous oxide (N2O) synthesis by the freshwater cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa
    (Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union, 2023-02-13) Fabisik F; Guieysse B; Procter J; Plouviez M; Treude T; Bouillon S
    Pure cultures of the freshwater cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa synthesized nitrous oxide (N2O) when supplied with nitrite (NO2-) in darkness (198.9 nmol g-DW-1 h-1 after 24 h) and illumination (163.1 nmol g-DW-1 h-1 after 24 h), whereas N2O production was negligible in abiotic controls supplied with NO2- and in cultures deprived of exogenous nitrogen. N2O production was also positively correlated to the initial NO2- and M. aeruginosa concentrations but was low to negligible when nitrate (NO3-) and ammonium (NH4+) were supplied as the sole exogenous N source instead of NO2-. A protein database search revealed that M. aeruginosa possesses protein homologous to eukaryotic microalgae enzymes known to catalyze the successive reduction of NO2- into nitric oxide (NO) and N2O. Our laboratory study is the first demonstration that M. aeruginosa possesses the ability to synthesize N2O. As M. aeruginosa is a bloom-forming cyanobacterium found globally, further research (including field monitoring) is now needed to establish the significance of N2O synthesis by M. aeruginosa under relevant conditions (especially in terms of N supply). Further work is also needed to confirm the biochemical pathway and potential function of this synthesis.