Survival of protein in an organic-rich sediment: possible protection by encapsulation in organic matter

Nitrogen is a major nutrient element influencing the cycling of organic matter in the biosphere. Both its organic and inorganic forms are closely related to biological productivity and take part in a series of interconnected reactions which form the nilrogen cycle [13]. Part of the nitrogen is incorporated into organic material and is moved from the active pool and no longer available for biological productivity. Little is known of the chemical composition of this refractory N or the processes responsible for its recalcitrance. Traditionally, this refractory nitrogen has been viewed as consisting of heterocyclic nitrogen compounds [4,5]. However, we report here solid-state 15N nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of refractory organic matter from an organicrich sediment showng evidence that this refractory nitrogen is composed primarily of amide-linked nitrogenous substances.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Knicker, Heike, Hatcher, Patrick G.
Format:	artículo biblioteca
Language:	English
Published:	Springer 1997
Online Access:	http://hdl.handle.net/10261/81861
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