Caption: See below. Illustration: Group Einsle
Caption: See below. Illustration: Group Einsle - Researchers unravel the assembly of an enzyme that detoxifies the greenhouse gas N2O The greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) is produced as a by-product of industrial processes and through the use of fertilizers in agriculture. It makes a steadily growing contribution to climate change and ozone depletion. It is so chemically inert that it remains in the atmosphere for a very long time. So far, only one enzyme is known in nature that can convert this gas into harmless nitrogen and water: N2O reductase. However, this is a copper-containing metalloenzyme and as such is sensitive to the oxygen in the air we breathe. Dr. Christoph Müller and Dr. Lin Zhang from the research group of Oliver Einsle at the Institute of Biochemistry at the University of Freiburg, together with Juan Du and Wei Lü from the Van Andel Research Institute in Grand Rapids/USA, have now made significant progress in understanding this enzyme.
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