Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “NITROGEN”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Effect of nitrogen source and nitrogen concentration on the production of pyruvate by Torulopsis glabrata.

The effect of nitrogen sources including yeast extract, peptone, soybean hydrolyzate and some inorganic nitrogen sources, as well as the nitrogen concentration on the fermentative production of pyruvate by Torulopsis glabrata WSH-IP12 was investigated. The addition of yeast extract greatly inhibited pyruvate accumulation, while peptone was shown to be the most favorable nitrogen source. In flask culture, 15 g l(-1) peptone was needed to consume 80 g l(-1) glucose with 23.4 g l(-1)of pyruvate accumulated. Pyruvate production was markedly dependent on the ratio of carbon to nitrogen (C:N), its production was improved by increasing the concentration of glucose and peptone proportionally and reduced by exclusively increasing the glucose concentration. In a glucose fed-batch culture, cell growth and pyruvate production slowed after 28 h. However, cell growth and pyruvate production recovered after further nitrogen, in the form of peptone and ammonium sulfate, was added to the culture. A final concentration of pyruvate of 54.5 g l(-1) was achieved at 64 h (yield to glucose consumed of 0.471 g g(-l)). By using aqueous ammonia instead of potassium hydroxide for pH control, 57.3 g l(-1) pyruvate with a yield of 0.498 g g(-1) was produced by 55 h. This result further indicates that nitrogen level plays an important role in the production of pyruvate.

Candida↗

In-stream nitrogen attenuation: model-aggregation effects and implications for coastal nitrogen impacts.

Eutrophication problems in coastal and marine waters worldwide emphasize the significance, for the scientific community as well as the whole society, of relevant quantification of catchment-scale nitrogen transport from land to coast. Different catchment-scale nitrogen budget models use, and base management recommendations on, quite different process representations of and spatial resolution approaches to in-stream nitrogen attenuation. We compare three different spatial resolution approaches to modeling nitrogen loss rates in streams of the same drainage basin. Results show that commonly used spatial model aggregation may lead to artificial decrease of calibrated nitrogen loss rates with increasing stream depth (or flow), in addition to any such dependences that may prevail in independently measurable reality. Coastal nitrogen impact predictions and practical management implications of large-scale model aggregation of nitrogen attenuation rates may further differ considerably from those based on rates from finer resolution modeling or independent measurements.

Environmental Monitoring↗

Influence of the timing of nitrogen additions during synthetic grape must fermentations on fermentation kinetics and nitrogen consumption.

Nitrogen deficiencies in grape musts are one of the main causes of stuck or sluggish wine fermentations. In the present study, we have supplemented nitrogen-deficient fermentations with a mixture of ammonium and amino acids at various stages throughout the alcoholic fermentation. The timing of the nitrogen additions influenced the biomass yield, the fermentation performance, the patterns of ammonium and amino acid consumption, and the production of secondary metabolites. These nitrogen additions induced a nitrogen-repressed situation in the cells, and this situation determined which nitrogen sources were selected. Glutamine and tryptophan were the main amino acids consumed in all the fermentations. Ammonium is the preferred nitrogen source for biomass production but was hardly consumed when it was added in the final stages of the fermentation. The higher ammonium consumption in some fermentations correlated with a greater synthesis of glycerol, acetate, and acetaldehyde but with a lower synthesis of higher alcohols.

Amino Acid Transport Systems↗

Exogenous and endogenous contribution to nitrogen fluxes in the digestive tract of pigs fed a casein diet. I. Contributions of nitrogen from the exocrine pancreatic secretion and the bile.

The aim of the present work was to study the endogenous contribution of the exocrine pancreatic and biliary secretions to the total endogenous nitrogen production in the pig. Three growing Large White pigs weighing 45 +/- 2.5 kg were fitted with permanent fistulae in the pancreatic duct, the bile duct and the duodenum. They were adapted to a semi-synthetic casein diet for 14 d before surgery. In a 7-d post-operative period and an 8-d experimental period, they were fed the same diet. Secretion rates were recorded, total nitrogen and TCA (trichloroacetic acid) insoluble nitrogen were determined in representative pancreatic juice and bile samples. Daily pancreatic juice and bile flow rates were very similar: 1,850 and 1,820 ml, respectively. The amount of endogenous total nitrogen secreted in the intestinal lumen was 3.6 g per day: 1.9 g N through pancreatic secretion and 1.7 g N through bile secretion. Pancreatic nitrogen increased after meal intake, whilst the kinetics of nitrogen production in the bile were not affected. Throughout the experiment, the mean percentage of TCA insoluble nitrogen was 78.1% in pancreatic juice and 72.3% in bile.

Animals↗

Marginal dietary protein restriction reduced nonprotein nitrogen, but not protein nitrogen, components of human milk.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to determine whether marginal dietary protein intakes of lactating women alter their milk production and composition. The study followed the observation that marginal dietary protein intakes lead to significantly negative nitrogen balances in these women. METHODS: Twenty-four healthy, mature lactating women were divided evenly into three groups on the basis of postpartum times; 1, 5, or 12 months. Each woman was given a controlled protein diet of either 1.5 (HP) or 1.0 (MP) g/kg body weight/day for 7 to 10 days. Milk production was measured for 72 hours by test weighing the infant before and after feeding. Milk samples from alternate breasts were collected for 24 hours, pooled, and analyzed for their protein nitrogen, nonprotein nitrogen, free and protein-bound amino acid, and lactoferrin concentrations. RESULTS: Reduced dietary protein intakes were associated with a decrease (p < 0.05) in the nonprotein nitrogen and total free amino acid fractions of milk. Although urea was unaffected, the concentrations of milk free leucine, phenylalanine, histidine, and ornithine were lower (p < 0.05) in the MP than in the HP group, while the output of leucine and histidine tended to be lower in the MP group. The amount of milk produced, as well as the amounts of protein nitrogen, protein-bound amino acid, and lactoferrin and their concentrations were unaffected by a reduction of dietary protein. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal milk production and the protein nitrogen, but not the nonprotein nitrogen, fraction of human milk were relatively well-preserved in the presence of a short-term, marginal reduction of dietary protein.

Adult↗

[Nitrogen balance and nitrogen utilization of non-lactating and lactating cows under various feeding frequency conditions].

A cross-over trial with nine nonlactating nonpregnant cows (experiment I) and a single-reversal trial with eight lactating cows (experiment II) were conducted to study the effect of feeding frequency upon nitrogen balance. The three treatments in experiment I were twice daily forage and concentrate, twice forage and eight times concentrate, and ten times forage and concentrate per day. In experiment II the animals received their forage and concentrate in two equal feedings daily or the forage in two and the concentrate in six meals per day. The diets had a severely restricted crude fiber content of only 16% in the dry matter of the total ration. In experiment I feeding frequency had no effect on fecal or urinary nitrogen excretion, nitrogen retention and nitrogen utilization. In experiment II, the urinary nitrogen excretion was significantly decreased by 9% in response to feeding concentrate six times daily. Fecal and milk nitrogen excretion as well as nitrogen retention and utilization criteria, however, were not significantly different for the two feeding frequencies.

Animals↗

[Energy and nitrogen metabolism of pregnant and lactating sows and suckling piglets. 5. Energy and nitrogen metabolism of pregnant sows].

The energy and nitrogen metabolism of pregnant sows was measured with the method of indirect calorimetry in dependence on the number of gestation (1,2 and 4), on the energy supply (120, 100 and 80% of the requirement recommendation) and on the gestation stage. Values of maintenance requirement and of energy and nitrogen utilization for body deposition were calculated on the basis of results of energy and nitrogen metabolism. The energy maintenance requirement increased from 389 to 435 and 473 kJ metabolizable energy per kg LW0.75.d with rising number of gestation. The heat production increased from 85th to 115th day of gestation by 6%. The efficiency of the partial energy utilization for the energy deposition amounted to 66% on the average. The efficiency of the partial utilization of digestible nitrogen for the nitrogen deposition was calculated to 75%. The nitrogen maintenance requirement values amounted to 0.5 and 0.4 g digestible nitrogen per kg LW0.75.d in the 1st and 2nd half of gestation.

Animal Feed↗

Nitrogen and dry-matter partitioning in soybean plants during onset of and recovery from nitrogen stress.

The study tested the hypothesis that resupplying nitrogen after a period of nitrogen stress leads to restoration of the balance between root and shoot growth and normal functional activity. Nonnodulated soybean plants were grown hydroponically for 14 days with 1.0 mM NO3- in a complete nutrient solution. One set of plants was continued on the complete nutrient solution for 25 days; a second set was given 0.0 mM NO3- for 25 days; and the third set was given 0.0 mM NO3- for 10 days followed by transfer to the complete solution with 1.0 mM NO3- for 15 days. In continuously nitrogen-stressed plants, emergence and expansion of main-stem and branch leaves were severely inhibited as low nitrogen content limited further growth. This was followed by a shift in partitioning of dry matter from the leaves to the roots, resulting in an initial stimulation of root growth and a decreased shoot:root ratio. Reduced nitrogen also was redistributed from the leaves into the stem and roots. When nitrogen stress was relieved, leaf initiation and expansion were renewed. With the restoration of the balance between root and shoot function, the shoot:root ratio and distribution of reduced nitrogen within the plant organs returned to levels similar to those of nonstressed plants.

Biomass↗

Improvement of nitrogen assimilation and fermentation kinetics under enological conditions by derepression of alternative nitrogen-assimilatory pathways in an industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain.

Metabolism of nitrogen compounds by yeasts affects the efficiency of wine fermentation. Ammonium ions, normally present in grape musts, reduce catabolic enzyme levels and transport activities for nonpreferred nitrogen sources. This nitrogen catabolite repression severely impairs the utilization of proline and arginine, both common nitrogen sources in grape juice that require the proline utilization pathway for their assimilation. We attempted to improve fermentation performance by genetic alteration of the regulation of nitrogen-assimilatory pathways in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. One mutant carrying a recessive allele of ure2 was isolated from an industrial S. cerevisiae strain. This mutation strongly deregulated the proline utilization pathway. Fermentation kinetics of this mutant were studied under enological conditions on simulated standard grape juices with various nitrogen levels. Mutant strains produced more biomass and exhibited a higher maximum CO2 production rate than the wild type. These differences were primarily due to the derepression of amino acid utilization pathways. When low amounts of dissolved oxygen were added, the mutants could assimilate proline. Biomass yield and fermentation rate were consequently increased, and the duration of the fermentation was substantially shortened. S. cerevisiae strains lacking URE2 function could improve alcoholic fermentation of natural media where proline and other poorly assimilated amino acids are the major potential nitrogen source, as is the case for most fruit juices and grape musts.

Crosses, Genetic↗

Urinary ammonia plus urinary urea nitrogen as an estimate of total urinary nitrogen in patients receiving parenteral nutrition support.

Nitrogen balance has historically been estimated by using urinary urea nitrogen (UUN) multiplied by a factor of 1.25 to account for nonurea nitrogen present in the urine. Recently, the reliability of UUN as an estimate of nitrogen losses has been questioned and the use of total urinary nitrogen (TUN) has been proposed as a more accurate measure of urinary nitrogen losses. However, analysis of TUN losses is not readily available in many hospital laboratories. Because ammonia is the major fluctuating component of urinary nonurea nitrogen and equipment to measure urinary ammonia is available in most hospitals, this study was undertaken to determine whether urinary ammonia plus UUN provides a clinically useful approximation of TUN. Twenty-four-hour urine samples acidified with boric acid during collection from 20 patients (a total of 42 samples) receiving total parenteral nutrition were analyzed for UUN, ammonia, and TUN. The UUN values ranged from 4.9 to 42.4 g/24 h. The mean difference between TUN and UUN was 1.99 +/- 0.27 g/24 h. The mean difference between TUN and UUN plus ammonia was 0.78 +/- 0.27 g/24 h. Thus, UUN alone accounted for 90% and the combination of UUN plus urinary ammonia accounted for 96% of TUN. These data suggest that UUN plus ammonia does provide a greater level of reliability as an estimate of TUN than UUN alone.

Ammonia↗

Prediction of duodenal nitrogen supply from degradation or organic and nitrogenous matter in situ.

The contribution of different feedstuffs to nitrogen reaching the duodenum was evaluated in situ. Dacron bags containing barley grain, corn grain, wheat silage, corn silage, alfalfa hay, rye grass, whole cottonseeds, or soybean meal were suspended in the rumens of three dairy cows fed roughage and concentrate diets. The effective degradability of the nitrogenous and organic matter of feedstuffs was calculated from their residues after incubation in the rumen for 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 36, or 48 h. The duodenal nitrogen content at ruminal outflows of 2, 5, or 8%/h was calculated as the sum of undegradable dietary nitrogen and potential microbial nitrogen (assuming 32 g N/kg ruminally degradable organic matter). Comparison of the in situ estimates with previously reported in vivo measurements of duodenal nitrogen in cattle fed diets with similar ingredients to the tested feedstuffs yielded a linear relationship (r2 = .887). The dacron bag technique appears to hold promise for the prediction of nitrogen flow to the duodenum.

Animal Feed↗

Acute effects of moderate dehydration on the hepatic conversion of amino nitrogen into urea nitrogen in healthy men.

Intracellular hydration may play a role in the regulation of protein and nitrogen metabolism. The hepatic removal of nitrogen by urea synthesis has a key regulatory role in nitrogen balance. The purpose of the present study was to establish the acute effects of dehydration on the hepatic kinetics of urea synthesis, quantified by functional hepatic nitrogen clearance (FHNC), in healthy volunteers. Seven healthy men were studied twice in random order. On both study days, a primed continuous infusion of alanine was given. On the day of dehydration an intravenous bolus injection of a loop diuretic (furosemide, 1 mg/kg) was superimposed. FHNC was calculated as the ratio between measured synthesis rates of urea nitrogen and blood alanine concentrations. Furosemide induced a weight loss of 1 kg. During dehydration, FHNC decreased by approx. 25% (41+/-11 to 54+/-10 litres/h; P<0.02). On both occasions individual FHNC and glucagon values were positively correlated (r(2)>0.6). In addition, dehydration more than halved the linear slope of the relationship (P<0.05). The FHNC values were correlated with the urinary excretion of both potassium and sodium (r(2)=0.68, P<0.01 and r(2)=0.62, P<0.02 respectively). Changes in the reactivity of urea synthesis to glucagon (i.e. the ratio between FHNC and glucagon concentration) was negatively correlated with an indirectly estimated change in intracellular water (r(2)=0.79, P<0.05). We conclude that acute moderate dehydration down-regulates both total urea synthesis and its sensitivity to glucagon. The latter was related to estimated intracellular water loss. Dehydration may thus have nitrogen-saving consequences with regard to the hepatic contribution to whole-body nitrogen homoeostasis. The mechanism of this effect and the relationship with sodium and potassium fluxes is not known.

Acute Disease↗

Nitrogen removal from water containing high nitrate nitrogen in a paddy field (wetland).

Nowadays, it has become very common to find in Japan that nitrate nitrogen concentrations are very high in spring water and in well water where the land use of a watershed is agricultural. We have often observed around 50 mg/L of nitrate nitrogen in the spring water where we live. Crops produced in those fields are mainly vegetables such as celery, cabbage, lettuce, carrots, and so on. Green tea is also popular in Japan. In order to produce good quality green tea, farmers apply a great amount of nitrogen fertilizer. This amount can reach up to 1,000 kg/ha in some areas, although the average application amounts to 628 kg/ha in Japan. As a result, ground water that is rich in nitrate flows into the river, which results in a high nitrogen concentration in river water and ground water. Further, this causes a low pH in river water in some tributary rivers in Japan, though this kind of case is very rare. We knew from field tests that if water contained a high nitrogen concentration and was introduced into paddy fields, high nitrogen removal would be performed. This paper presents the outline and results of a system on how to remove nitrogen using paddy fields (wetlands). Further, this paper presents the evaluated results of the removal quantity at the watershed level.

Agriculture↗

Pathway of nitrogen metabolism after fixation of 13N-labeled nitrogen gas by the cyanobacterium, Anabaena cylindrica.

Methods have been developed for identifying the pathway of assimilation of N2-derived nitrogen. The products of fixation of 13N-labeled nitrogen gas ([13N]N2), and the distribution of 13N within glutamine, were determined after short periods of labeling (approximately 1 to 120 s) and also in pulse-chase experiments. Ammonia, the amide nitrogen of glutamine, and the alpha-amino nitrogen of glutamate, in that order, were the first observed products of fixation of N2 by the cyanobacterium (blue-green alga), Anabaena cylindrica. This sequence of the formation of nitrogenous products was confirmed by the use of inhibitors. The presence of 1 mM methionine sulfoximine permitted continued formation of 13NH3, while virtually preventing 13N-labeling of amino acids. In the presence of 1 mM azaserine, glutamine was labeled, but not other amino acids. Our observations demonstrate unequivocally that N2-derived nitrogen fixed by this organism is metabolized initially by the glutamine synthetase/glutamate synthase pathway.

Cyanobacteria↗

Regional and historical variation in the nitrogen content of Racomitrium lanuginosum in Britain in relation to atmospheric nitrogen deposition.

The moss Racomitrium lanuginosum (Hedw.) Brid. is an important component of the drier parts of ombrotrophic mires and montane heaths in north-western Britain. The extent and quality of the montane heaths dominated by R. lanuginosum has declined in recent decades, perhaps in part due to the effects of acidic deposition at high elevations. This paper examines the effect of atmospheric nitrogen deposition, which has increased during this century, on the nitrogen content of R. lanuginosum in Britain. The nitrogen content of the moss reflects the magnitude of the atmospheric supply being least in north-western Scotland and greatest (as much as six-fold greater) near to urban centres in northern England. This regional difference was less marked (only approx. two-fold) during the 19th century (as revealed from the analysis of herbarium specimens) when nitrogen concentrations were appreciably lower. Transplant studies both between regions and between sites within a mountain system demonstrated the importance of atmospheric deposition in determining the tissue nitrogen concentration of the moss. The results are discussed in relation to the potential importance of the enhanced atmospheric nitrogen supply to the normally nitrogen-impoverished montane heaths, and to the growth and persistence of the moss.

Journal Article↗

Nitrogen fixation (acetylene reduction) in a salt marsh amended with sewage sludge and organic carbon and nitrogen compounds.

Seasonal distribution of nitrogen fixation by Spartina alterniflora epiphytes and in surface and soil samples was investigated in a Georgia salt marsh which was amended with sewage sludge or with glucose and/or ammonium nitrate. There was no significant difference between the rates of fixation in the unamended and sewage sludge plots. Additional perturbation experiments suggested that nitrogen addition indirectly stimulates nitrogen fixation by enhancing Spartina production and root exudation. Glucose additions, on the other hand, suppressed nitrogen fixation on a long-term basis. It is suggested that the microbial population in the soil out-competed the plants for the available nitrogen and in turn suppressed plant production and possibly root exudation. A comparison of nitrogen fixation in clipped and unclipped Spartina plots substantiated the suggestion that root exudation probably supports nitrogen fixation. Fixation in the clipped plots was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than the rates in the unclipped plots.

Journal Article↗

Reduced nitrogen fixation in the glacial ocean inferred from changes in marine nitrogen and phosphorus inventories.

To explain the lower atmospheric CO2 concentrations during glacial periods, it has been suggested that the productivity of marine phytoplankton was stimulated by an increased flux of iron-bearing dust to the oceans. One component of this theory is that iron-an essential element/nutrient for nitrogen-fixing organisms-will increase the rate of marine nitrogen fixation, fuelling the growth of other marine phytoplankton and increasing CO2 uptake. Here we present data that questions this hypothesis. From a sediment core off the northwestern continental margin of Mexico, we show that denitrification and phosphorite formation-processes that occur in oxygen-deficient upwelling regions, removing respectively nitrogen and phosphorus from the ocean-declined in glacial periods, thus increasing marine inventories of nitrogen and phosphorus. But increases in phosphorus were smaller and less rapid, leading to increased N/P ratios in the oceans. Acknowledging that phytoplankton require nitrogen and phosphorus in constant proportions, the Redfield ratio, and that N/P ratios greater than the Redfield ratio are likely to suppress nitrogen fixation, we suggest therefore that marine productivity did not increase in glacial periods in response to either increased nutrient inventories or greater iron supply.

Atmosphere↗

Nitrogen utilisation by dairy cows fed diets differing in crude protein level with a deficit in ruminal fermentable nitrogen.

We studied the efficiency of nitrogen utilisation by dairy cows, using three diets differing in the crude protein (CP) level but with similar deficits (10 g x kg(-1) dry matter, DM) in ruminal fermentable nitrogen. There was no difference in milk yield from the cows offered the three diets (130, 145 and 160 g CP x kg(-1) DM). The milk protein content differed between the two most extreme diets (28.9 vs. 29.9 g x kg(-1), P < 0.05), resulting in higher protein yields for the highest CP treatment (P < 0.01). The efficiency of nitrogen utilisation, calculated as the proportion of ingested nitrogen recovered in the milk, was significantly higher for the 130 g CP x kg(-1) DM diet than for the other two diets (0.37 vs. 0.33 and 0.32 respectively. P < 0.01). The different diets also resulted in different levels of nitrogen excretion into the environment (237, 270 and 330 g N x d(-1), P < 0.01). Hepatic deamination of the amino acids may have generated additional energy to enable the animal to make use of the additional nitrogen in the diet, resulting in an increase in plasma urea concentration.

Animal Feed↗