Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-2-2000

Abstract

A diverse group of nitrogen-fixing bacteria and two heme degraders were grown with and without fixed nitrogen sources under oxic and suboxic conditions, with and without addition of heme-containing compounds. Several of the strains produced carbon monoxide (CO) under one or more of these conditions, but nitrogenase activity did not stimulate rates of production relative to controls. Although nitrogenase can reduce CO2 to CO in vitro in the absence of N2, this process likely contributes minimally to CO production in soils under in situ conditions. In contrast, myoglobin or hematin addition under oxic conditions significantly stimulated CO production by the heme degraders. However, estimates of CO production from microbial heme turnover suggest that this too is likely to be only a small source of CO in soils in situ. Copyright (C) 2000 Federation of European Microbiological Societies.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

FEMS Microbiology Ecology

First Page

157

Last Page

160

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