Elucidation and Quantification of Microbial Nutrient Cycling Through the Assessment of Key Functional Proteins (A04)

• Subject Area: Microbial Ecology and Applied Microbiology
• Term: from 2013 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 218627073

Our analyses will yield quantitative data on the pathways involved and the activity of specific bacterial groups dependent on metabolomic signatures from the surface and thus will contribute to the understanding of microbial activity and ecosystem services present in the Hainich CZE. Therefore, we will contribute by (1) targeted proteomics on key enzymes of the nitrogen and carbon cycle in the aquifers, (2) elucidation of subpopulations and the functional role in nitrogen and carbon cycling in combination with flow cytometry, and (3) metaproteomic qualitative and quantitative analysis of labelling approaches applying heavy-labelled water to determine metabolically active species. We will provide important evidence, through protein abundance, to a better functional understanding of biogeochemical cycling in nature.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1076: AquaDiva: Understanding the Links between Surface and Subsurface Biogeosphere
• Applicant Institution: Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Martin von Bergen; Dr. Nico Jehmlich, since 7/2017; Professorin Dr. Kirsten Küsel, from 12/2016 until 6/2017; Dr. Falk Warnecke, until 7/2014 (†)