> Research > Programs and projects > Theme 1 & 2

Contribution of nitrite-dependent methane oxidation to the past and present nitrogen cycle in coastal and estuarine ecosystems
Program coordinator(s): Prof. dr. ir. M. S. M. Jetten
Theme(s): 1 , 2
Funding date: 21 June 2010

Abstract
This study addresses the contribution of the recently discovered Methylomirabilis oxyfera bacteria to the methane and nitrogen cycles in sediments at the interface between river and sea. Studies of sediments in the Dutch Wadden Sea and the Scheldt River have shown that the nitrite that is introduced into the sediment by river water can decompose rapidly. Under anoxic conditions, the greenhouse gas methane may then be generated in these sediments. The oxygen-producing, methane-oxidizing bacteria Methylomirabilis oxyfera may make a significant contribution to this nitrite and methane conversion, but this has never been studied in these sediments. The study will also focus on ways to identify these bacteria in older rocks. Because there was no oxygen on early Earth, but large volumes of nitrogen oxides and methane were available, these bacteria may also have played an important role in the evolution of the Earth. The present study will also generate knowledge on potential applications of these microbes in new, and more sustainable water-treatment technologies.

This program contains the following projects:
3071: Microbiology of nitrite-dependent methane-oxidation in coastal ecosystems
3072: Tracing the environmental significance of nitrite-driven anaerobic methane oxidation

Publications
Francisca A. Luesken, Baoli Zhu, Theo A. van Alen, Margaret K. Butler, Marina Rodriguez Diaz, Bongkeun Song, Huub J.M. Op den Camp, Mike S.M. Jetten, and Katharina F. Ettwig (2011). PmoA primers for environmental detection of anaerobic methanotrophs. Applied and Environmental Microbiology77 (11): 3877-3880.
Darwin Center authors: op den Camp H. J. M., Ettwig K.F., Jetten M. S. M.

O Rasigraf, C Vogt, HH Richnow, MSM Jetten & KF Ettwig (2012). Carbon and hydrogen isotope fractionation during nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation by Methylomirabilis oxyfera. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Darwin Center authors: Ettwig K.F., Jetten M. S. M.

B Zhu, G van Dijk, C Fritz, AJP Smolders, A Pol, MSM Jetten, and KF Ettwig (2012). Anaerobic Oxidization of Methane in a Minerotrophic Peatland: Enrichment of Nitrite-Dependent Methane-Oxidizing Bacteria. Applied and Environmental Micorbiology78 (24): 8657-8665.
Darwin Center authors: Ettwig K.F., Jetten M. S. M.

DM Kool, B Zhu, WIC Rijpstra, MSM Jetten, KF Ettwig & JS Sinninghe Damsté (2012). Branched Fatty Acids Characterize the Lipid Composition of the Intra-Aerobic Methane Oxidizer “Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera”.. Applied and Environmental Microbiology78 (24): 8650-8656.
Darwin Center authors: Ettwig K.F., Jetten M. S. M., Kool D.M., Sinninghe Damsté J. S.

O Rasigraf, DM Kool, MSM Jetten, JS Sinninghe Damsté, KF Ettwig (2014). Autotrophic carbon dioxide fixation via the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle by the denitrifying methanotroph “Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera”. Applied and Environmental Microbiology80 (8): 2451-2460.
Darwin Center authors: Ettwig K.F., Jetten M. S. M., Kool D.M., Sinninghe Damsté J. S.

Kool DM, HM Talbot, D Rush, KF Ettwig, JS Sinninghe Damsté (2014). Rare bacteriohopanepolyols as markers for an autotrophic, intra-aerobic methanotroph. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Actain press:
Darwin Center authors: Ettwig K.F., Kool D.M., Rush D., Sinninghe Damsté J. S.

Matthias Egger, Olivia Rasigraf, Célia J. Sapart, Tom Jilbert, Mike S. M. Jetten, Thomas Röckmann, Carina van der Veen, Narcisa Bândă, Boran Kartal, Katharina F. Ettwig, and Caroline P. Slomp (2015). Iron-Mediated Anaerobic Oxidation of Methane in Brackish Coastal Sediments. Environmental Science and Technology49: 277-283.
Darwin Center authors: Ettwig K.F., Jetten M. S. M., Slomp C. P.

Egger MJ, O Rasigraf, CJ Sapart, T Jilbert, MSM Jetten, T Röckmann, C van der Veen, N Banda, B Kartal, KF Ettwig & CP Slomp (2015). Iron-Mediated Anaerobic Oxidation of Methane in Brackish Coastal Sediments. Environmental Science and Technology49: 277-283.
Darwin Center authors: Ettwig K.F., Jetten M. S. M., Slomp C. P.