Open AccessGrowth of Nitrosomonas europaea on hydroxylamine
Author(s) -
Bruijn Peter,
De Graaf Astrid A.,
Jetten Mike S.M.,
Robertson Lesley A.,
Kuenen J. Gijs
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1995.tb07355.x
Subject(s) - nitrosomonas europaea , nitrosomonas , hydroxylamine , chemistry , environmental chemistry , biology , nitrification , biochemistry , organic chemistry , nitrogen
Hydroxylamine is an intermediate in the oxidation of ammonia to nitrite, but until now it has not been possible to grow Nitrosomonas europaea on hydroxylamine. This study demonstrates that cells of N. europaea are capable of growing mixotrophically on ammonia and hydroxylamine. The molar growth yield on hydroxylamine (4.74 g mol −1 at a growth rate of 0.03 h −1 ) was higher than expected. Aerobically growing cells of N. europaea oxidized ammonia to nitrite with little loss of inorganic nitrogen, while significant inorganic nitrogen losses occurred when cells were growing mixotrophically on ammonia and hydroxylamine. In the absence of oxygen, hydroxylamine was oxidized with nitrite as electron acceptor, while nitrous oxide was produced. Anaerobic growth of N. europaea on ammonium, hydroxylamine and nitrite could not be observed at growth rates of 0.03 h −1 and 0.01 h −1 .