J. P. Bellenger
Postdoctoral Research Associate

Department of Geosciences
M32 Guyot Hall
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ 08544

Phone: (609) 258-7438
E-Mail: jbelleng@princeton.edu

Research

I am interested in the strategies of acquisition of the trace metals needed to sustain nitrogenase acitivity in soils, especially the oxoanions Mo and V.  My research is focused on the roles of the catechol siderophores, azotochelin and protochelin, produced by the soil nitrogen fixer Azotobacter vinelandii in the management of molybdate, vanadate and tungstate supply.  We have previously reported the exceptional affinity of the catechols siderophore, like azotochelin, for oxoanions. These ligands could be involved in the uptake and/or in the detoxicification of oxoanions under diazotrophic conditions.  We have recently demonstrated the role of azotochelin and protochelin as detoxifying agent for tungstate, a well know inhibitor of nitrogenase activity.  I am currently focused on the determination of the potential role of molybdophore or vanadophore of these ligands in A. vinelandii.

Education

• 2001-2005 Ph.D. Biogeochemistry, Louis Pasteur University (Strasbourg), France
• 2001 Advanced degree in Soil sciences, University of Nancy, France.
• 2000 Master’s degree in Cellular Biology and Physiology, Claude Bernard University (Lyon), France
• 1999 Master’s degree in Geosciences, Claude Bernard University (Lyon), France
• 1998 Three-years university degree in Geosciences, Claude Bernard University (Lyon), France
• 1995-1997 Two-year university degree in General Biology and Geology, Jules Verne University (Amiens), France

Professional and research experience

• 10/2005 to present Research Associate, Princeton University. Study of catecholate siderophores produced by the nitrogen fixer Azotobacter vinelandii and their role in oxoanions uptake and detoxification.
• 10/2001 to 06/2005 PhD in Biogeochimistry, Strasbourg University, France.« Oxyanions Mo, V and W uptake by nitrogen fixer Azotobacter vinelandii »
• 11/2002 - 02/2003 Princeton Environmental Institute, Princeton University, USA.« Characterization of the molybdate azotochelin complex in the range of pH 3-12. » using IR spectrometry and XANES.
• 01/2001 - 07/2001 INRA-ENSAM Montpellier (National institute of agronomic research).« Adsorption and desorption of strontium and caesium on synthetics organic-clay complex. »Study of strontium and caesium complexation by synthetic organic-clay complex (humic acid, fulvic acid, illite, montmorllionite and kaolinite) using UV-vis spectrometry and HPIC for evaluate the risk of food chain contamination by radioelement after the Chernobyl accident.

Teaching experience (ULP University, Strasbourg, France)

2004/2005

• Geosciences : Primitive Life history - Three-years university degree (40 hours)
• Soil science - Three-years university degree (15 hours)
• Mineralogy - Master’s degree (10 hours)
• Analytical chemistry – Master’s degree (16 hours)

2003/ 2004

• Environmental chemistry - Three-years university degree (30 hours)
• Soil science - Three-years university degree e (15 hours
• Scientific methodology - Three-years university degree (20 hours)

2002/2003

• Environmental chemistry - Three-years university degree (30 hours)
• Soil science - Three-years university degree (15 hours
• Scientific methodology - Three-years university degree (20 hours)

2001/2002

• Environmental chemistry - Three-years university degree (30 hours)
• Soil science - Three-years university degree (15 hours
• Scientific methodology - Three-years university degree (20 hours)

Communications

2001 3e journées du groupe Français de l’IHSS, Limoges.

Oral presentation  »Adsorption d’un acide fulvique sur des minéraux de référence et conséquences sur leur affinité pour le radiocésium et le radiostrontium ».

2003 Biogeochimical controls on the mobility and bioavailability of metals in soils and groundwaters, International Workshop, (CSF) Monteverita, Ascona, Switzerland

Poster: Azotochelin, a potential buffer of oxyanions

2005 229th ACS National Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 13-17, 2005, Trace element biochemistry.

Oral presentation Molybdenum and vanadium uptake by the nitrogen fixer Azotobacter vinelandii

Bellenger JP, Arnaud-Neu F, Myneni SCB, Stiefel E, Kraepiel AML

Publications

Bellenger, J.-P., T. Wichard, A.B. Kustka and A.M.L. Kraepiel. Uptake of molybdenum and vanadium by a nitrogen-fixing soil bacterium using siderophores. Nature Geoscience, 1(4): 243-246 (2008).

Bellenger, J.-P., S. Staunton. Adsorption and desorption of Sr-85 adn (CS)-C-137 on reference minerals, with and without inorganic and organic surface coatings. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 99(5): 831-840 (2008).

Bellenger, J.-P., T. Wichard and A.M.L. Kraepiel. Vanadium requirements and uptake kinetics in the dinitrogen-fixing bacterium. Azotobacter vinelandii. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 74 (5): 1478-1484 (2008).

Wichard, T., J.-P. Bellenger, A. Loison and A.M.L. Kraepiel. Catechol siderophores control tungsten uptake and toxicity in the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Azotobacter vinelandii. Environ.Sci. Technol. 42: 2408-2413 (2008).

Bellenger, J.-P., T. Wichard and A.M.L. Kraepiel. A new metallophore for the nitrogen fixing bacteria Azotobacter vinelandii. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 71(15): A76-A76 Suppl. (2007).

Wichard, T., J.-P. Bellenger and A.M.L. Kraepiel. Novel functions of siderophores in Azotobacter vinelandii. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 71(15): A1107-A1107 Suppl. (2007).

Bellenger, J.-P., F. Arnaud-Neu, Z. Asfari , S.C.B. Myneni, E.I. Stiefel and A.M.L. Kraepiel. Complexation of oxoanions and cationic metals by the biscatecholate siderophore azotochelin. J. Biol. Inorg.Chem. 12: 367-376 (2007).