New research from the University of East Anglia reveals how soil bacteria build the only known enzyme for the destruction of the potent global warming and ozone-depleting gas nitrous oxide.
Prof Nick Le Brun from UEA’s School of Chemistry, said: “It is well known that some bacteria can ‘breathe’ N2O in environments where oxygen (O2) is limited.
“This ability is entirely dependent on an enzyme called ‘nitrous oxide reductase’, which is the only enzyme known to destroy N2O. It is therefore very important for controlling levels of this climate-changing gas.
“We wanted to find out more about how soil bacteria use this enzyme to destroy nitrous oxide.”
Source:
EurekAlert! by University of East Anglia
EurekAlert! by University of East Anglia
