Role of extracellular electron transfer in the nitrogen cycle

Role of extracellular electron transfer in the nitrogen cycle

Extracellular electron transfer impacts the nitrogen cycle by enhancing microbial processes and connecting to other biogeochemical cycles. Understanding EET mechanisms provides insights into ecosystem functioning and potential advancements; Arpita Bose and Zhecheng (Robert) Zhang explain. Nitrogen is a fundamental element required by all living species. It can be found in amino acids, proteins, and nucleic acids. The nitrogen cycle promotes nitrogen transformation and transit across the environment, making it available for biological activity. Key steps in the cycle include nitrogen fixation (conversion of atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia), nitrification (oxidation of ammonia to nitrate), denitrification (reduction of nitrate to nitrogen gas), and anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox), which then converts ammonium and nitrite directly to nitrogen gas. Extracellular electron transfer (EET) is the mechanism by which microorganisms transmit electrons from their cells to accept electrons from external donors. This ability allows microorganisms to interact with insoluble substrates, which, in turn, influences a variety of biogeochemical cycles, including the nitrogen cycle. Understanding EET’s function sheds light on microbial ecology and environmental processes.