Abstract

ANDRADE OCHOA, Sergio; EROSA DE LA VEGA, Gilberto  and  NEVAREZ MOORILLON, Guadalupe Virginia. Bacterial and archaeal ammonium-oxidases involved in nitrogen cycle. Terra Latinoam [online]. 2015, vol.33, n.3, pp.233-245. ISSN 2395-8030.

Nitrification, microbial oxidation of ammonia to nitrate, plays a critical role in the nitrogen cycle. Two distinct groups of ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) are believed to be responsible for the first step of nitrification. These two groups of Beta-proteobacteria include the genera Nitrosomonas and Nitrosospira and the Gamma-proteobacteria group, which includes Nitrosococcus . However, the existence of ammonia oxidizing archaea (AOA) and their contribution to the nitrogen cycle have been demonstrated. Nitrosopumilus maritimus is the most studied organism in the oxidation of ammonia. The dynamics between these two different systems of ammonia oxidizing tends to be complex. Current studies are focused on different habitats, and it has been proposed that the relative contributions of AOA and AOB communities depend on certain physical-chemical properties of their environment, which affect their abundance and diversity. It is thus diificult to pinpoint the ecological niche of each community. This paper reviews the scientific evidence that facilitates understanding the role of ammonia oxidizing microorganisms.

Keywords : nitrification; soil bacteria; biological ammonia oxidation.

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