Bacteria are well known for their ability to grow in extreme environments-from Arctic lakes to Yellowstone hot springs and from acid mine drainage to deep aquifers. Three such groups of bacteria are the focus of research projects in our laboratory. One group uses ammonia as their source of energy. Ammonia is a common component of plant fertilizers where it provides a source of nitrogen, but not energy, for plant growth. Another group we study uses butane as the energy source.
Butane is a common fuel source for cooking and heating.
We also study bacteria that grow on toluene, a constituent of gasoline. In each case, the bacteria have found a way to grow on a substrate that is outside the norm for cellular metabolites. These abilities can have far-reaching impacts. Bacterial growth on ammonia contributes to the cycling of nitrogen through the biosphere. Disruptions in this biogeochemical cycle can lead to increases in atmospheric trace gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect.