Composition of nifH in a wastewater treatment system reliant on N(2) fixation

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2008 Jul;79(5):811-8. doi: 10.1007/s00253-008-1486-2. Epub 2008 May 1.

Abstract

High levels of nitrogen fixation have been observed in the wastewaters of pulp and paper mills. In this study, we show that nitrogen fixation in a model pulp and paper wastewater treatment system is supported by a high density of nifH sequences that are of low diversity. Quantitative PCR revealed a ratio of nifH to 16S rDNA of 1.14 +/- 0.76 which shows that very high levels of the nifH gene were enriched to support the high rates of nitrogen fixation that occur in this wastewater. Changes in wastewater composition and dissolved oxygen levels did not affect the nifH levels and allowed stable wastewater treatment. The nifH sequences identified display a similar profile to those seen in forest soil environments where nifH sequences derived from alpha-proteobacteria and beta-proteobacteria are also prevalent.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria / classification
  • Bacteria / enzymology*
  • Bacteria / genetics
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Biodiversity
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • DNA, Ribosomal / metabolism
  • Industrial Waste / analysis*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nitrogen Fixation*
  • Oxidoreductases / genetics*
  • Oxidoreductases / metabolism
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Water Microbiology*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • DNA, Ribosomal
  • Industrial Waste
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • Oxidoreductases
  • nitrogenase reductase

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AY787537
  • GENBANK/AY787538
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