Activity of nitrous oxide reductase - one of the World´s most important enzymes

Project type: Masters, Bachelor
Target group: Biology

Key words: Greenhouse gases; soils; ecology, microbial physiology

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is the third most important greenhouse gas causing global warming (after carbon dioxide and methane). Most of the N₂O in the atmosphere is produced by denitrifying bacteria in soils. However, the concentration of N₂O in the atmosphere would be much higher if not for the enzyme nitrous oxide reductase, which transforms N₂O into the harmless N₂. This enzyme is exclusively produced by denitrifying bacteria and is a vital buffer against further warming of our planet. However, surprisingly little is known about the production and activity of this important enzyme under natural conditions in soil.

The aim of the project is to investigate the influence of key environmental parameters, e.g. temperature and pH, on the production and activity of nitrous oxide reductase in soil samples. The activity and production of the nitrous oxide reductase will be compared to enzymes and genes involved in the production of nitrous oxide by denitrifying bacteria.

The project will involve enzyme assays, quantitative PCR, and sequencing of PCR amplicons of DNA and/or cDNA from nitrous oxide reductase genes and selected genes involved in the production of N₂O.

Supervisor: Anders Priemé (aprieme@bio.ku.dk)