Award details

The biochemical diversity of bacterial nitrate assimilation

ReferenceP13842
Principal Investigator / Supervisor Professor David Richardson
Co-Investigators /
Co-Supervisors
Institution University of East Anglia
DepartmentBiological Sciences
Funding typeResearch
Value (£) 175,536
StatusCompleted
TypeResearch Grant
Start date 01/10/2001
End date 01/10/2004
Duration36 months

Abstract

Assimilatory nitrate reductases (NAS) are widely distributed in bacteria and contribute significantly to the global nitrogen cycle. Analysis of NAS amino acid sequences reveals that they may be sub-grouped into three distinct types. We will study representative examples of two types, one from the enteric bacterium Klebsiella oxytoca and the other from the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC7942. Using biochemical, spectroscopic and physiological methods we will investigate: 1) the biology and evolution of the active site of the nitrate reductases; 2) the pathways of electron transfer to the catalytic site within the different types of NAS; 3) the nature of the electron donors that link the NAS systems with the bacteria's central metabolism; and 4) the physiological importance of possessing distinct nitrate reductases for both assimilation and denitrification pathways.

Summary

unavailable
Committee Closed Committee - Plant & Microbial Sciences (PMS)
Research TopicsX – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research PriorityX – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative X - not in an Initiative
Funding SchemeX – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme
terms and conditions of use (opens in new window)
export PDF file