Molecular Biology and Biochemistry of Heme and Copper- containing Dissimilatory Nitrite Reductases

细菌反硝化是生物降解的主要途径， 有机氮返回到大气中。 过程 涉及一系列的酶和电子供体， 硝酸盐转化为分子氮 该奖项的目的是 确定两种亚硝酸盐还原酶的结构和功能 这是系统的关键组成部分。 一个是四血红素 一种是细胞色素，另一种是非血红素铜蛋白。 的基因 这两种酶将被克隆。 酶的晶体 将制备并确定它们的三维结构。 大量的氮肥施用在 土壤因细菌反硝化作用而流失。 成果 研究将帮助我们了解这一过程是如何发生的 在分子水平上，并可能使我们能够设计策略， 以减少反硝化作用，从而减少 化肥流失造成的污染。

Bacterial denitrification is the major pathway by which organic nitrogen is returned to the atmosphere. The process involves a series of enzymes and electron donors, which reduce nitrate to molecular nitrogen. The objective of this award is to define the structure and function of two nitrite reductases which are key components of the system. One is a tetraheme cytochrome and the other a non-heme copper protein. The genes of the two enzymes will be cloned. Crystals of the enzymes will be prepared and their 3 dimensional structure determined. A tremendous amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied to the soil is lost by bacterial denitrification. Results of this research will help us understand how this process takes place at the molecular level, and may enable us to devise strategies to reduce denitrification and thus cut down the amount of pollution caused by fertilizer run-off.