Anammox synthesizes 'rocket fuel' hydrazine with special protein
Wednesday, October 21, 2015 - 10:50
in Physics & Chemistry
Anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) bacteria are known for their ability to convert ammonium into nitrogen gas without using oxygen. The chemical compound hydrazine, also used as rocket fuel and the strongest reductant on earth, is central in this process. An international team of microbiologists now describes the protein that synthesizes hydrazine in anammox in full detail.