Work

The functional analysis of NirBD in microorganisms and the efficacies of NirBD on the soil nitrogen storage and N2O emission

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The siroheme-containing nitrite reductase (NirBD), which is encoded by the nirBD gene, is a functional enzyme in the nitrogen cycle. The NirBD enzyme can regulate N 2 O release through the two distinct pathways of assimilatory nitrate/nitrite reduction to biomass and dissimilatory nitrate/nitrite reduction to ammonium. Therefore, a thorough comprehension of the function of NirBD in microorganisms can enable us to better understanding the contributions for nitrogen retention and N 2 O emission. However, the knowledge of the functions and expression mechanisms of nirBD gene across different microorganisms remains limited. This review synthesized the current research on the phylogenetic distribution and catalytic versatility of NirBD in fungi, bacteria, and actinomycetes. The contributions of NirBD for nitrogen retention and N 2 O emission were extensively discussed under anaerobic and aerobic conditions. The expression mechanism of NirBD was demonstrated. The factors that affect the expression amount of the NirBD enzyme in microorganisms were clarified systematically. This review not only elucidated the unique role of NirBD in the nitrogen metabolism but also provided a critical theoretical foundation for developing future strategies to enhance soil nitrogen fertility and mitigate N 2 O emissions.

Source: Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology

DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2025.12.017

Authors: Yidan Peng, Tengxia He, Qimin Zhou, Mengyuan Yin, Chengtao Jin

Institution: Guizhou University

Language: English

Topic: Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics

Subfield: Soil Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,500

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Guizhou University