Multi-Omics Analysis Reveals the Nitrogen Removal Mechanism Induced by Electron Flow during the Start-up of the Anammox-Centered Process

Li Zhang*, Shiwei Hao, Quanhao Dou, Tingjun Dong, Wei Kang Qi, Xiaowu Huang, Yongzhen Peng, Jiachun Yang*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Significant progress in understanding the key enzymes or species of anammox has been made; however, the nitrogen removal mechanism in complex coupling systems centered on anammox remains limited. In this study, by the combination of metagenomics–metatranscriptomics analyses, the nitrogen removal in the anammox-centered coupling system that entails partial denitrification (PD) and hydrolytic acidification (HA, A-PDHA) was elucidated to be the nitrogen transformation driven by the electron generation–transport–consumption process. The results showed that a total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency of >98%, with a TN effluence of 98%, was achieved after 59 days under famine operation and alkaline conditions during the start-up process. Further investigation confirmed that famine operation promoted the activity of genes responsible for electron generation in anammox, and increased the abundance or expression of genes related to electron consumption. Alkaline conditions enhanced the electron generation for PD by upregulating the activity of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase and strengthened electron transfer by increasing the gene encoding quinone pool. Altogether, these variations in the electron flow led to efficient nitrogen removal. These results improve our understanding of the nitrogen removal mechanism and application of the anammox-centered coupling systems in treating nitrogen wastewater.
Original languageEnglish
JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology
DOIs
StatePublished - 10 Oct 2022

Keywords

  • anammox
  • hydrolytic acidification
  • partial denitrification
  • metagenomic sequencing
  • metatranscriptomic sequencing

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