N ₂ O reduction at low pH
Year: 2026
Type: editorial
Abstract: ABSTRACT Microbial N ₂ O reduction in acid soils became a conundrum when NosZ maturation was found to be impaired at pH ≤6 in both model organisms and soil communities. Yet, evolution appears to have repeatedly circumvented this constraint. Examples include the identification of two small proteins that enable maturation of canonical NosZ at low pH, as well as the Schinkia sp. isolated by G. He, M. E. Davin, S. Kolodney, E. Stutzman, et al. (Appl Environ Microbiol 92:e00069-26, 2026, https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00069-26 ), which carries a unique repertoire of nosZ genes and grows by N 2 O respiration across pH 4.4–8.5. These discoveries help resolve the conundrum and may provide new options for mitigating N 2 O emissions.
DOI: 10.1128/aem.01424-26
Authors: Lars R. Bakken, Åsa Frostegård
Institution: Norwegian University of Life Sciences
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Funder: Norges Forskningsråd
Award: G9001171569
OpenAlex ID: W7221619346