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Wilhelm RC, Barnett SE, Swenson TL, Youngblut ND, Koechli CN, Bowen BP, Northen TR, Buckley DH. Tracing Carbon Metabolism with Stable Isotope Metabolomics Reveals the Legacy of Diverse Carbon Sources in Soil. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0083922. [PMID: 36300927 PMCID: PMC9680644 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00839-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Tracking the metabolic activity of whole soil communities can improve our understanding of the transformation and fate of carbon in soils. We used stable isotope metabolomics to trace 13C from nine labeled carbon sources into the water-soluble metabolite pool of an agricultural soil over time. Soil was amended with a mixture of all nine sources, with one source isotopically labeled in each treatment. We compared changes in the 13C enrichment of metabolites with respect to carbon source and time over a 48-day incubation and contrasted differences between soluble sources (glucose, xylose, amino acids, etc.) and insoluble sources (cellulose and palmitic acid). Whole soil metabolite profiles varied singularly by time, while the composition of 13C-labeled metabolites differed primarily by carbon source (R2 = 0.68) rather than time (R2 = 0.07), with source-specific differences persisting throughout incubations. The 13C labeling of metabolites from insoluble carbon sources occurred slower than that from soluble sources but yielded a higher average atom percent (atom%) 13C in metabolite markers of biomass (amino acids and nucleic acids). The 13C enrichment of metabolite markers of biomass stabilized between 5 and 15 atom% 13C by the end of incubations. Temporal patterns in the 13C enrichment of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates, nucleobases (uracil and thymine), and by-products of DNA salvage (allantoin) closely tracked microbial activity. Our results demonstrate that metabolite production in soils is driven by the carbon source supplied to the community and that the fate of carbon in metabolites do not generally converge over time as a result of ongoing microbial processing and recycling. IMPORTANCE Carbon metabolism in soil remains poorly described due to the inherent difficulty of obtaining information on the microbial metabolites produced by complex soil communities. Our study demonstrates the use of stable isotope probing (SIP) to study carbon metabolism in soil by tracking 13C from supplied carbon sources into metabolite pools and biomass. We show that differences in the metabolism of sources influence the fate of carbon in soils. Heterogeneity in 13C-labeled metabolite profiles corresponded with compositional differences in the metabolically active populations, providing a basis for how microbial community composition correlates with the quality of soil carbon. Our study demonstrates the application of SIP-metabolomics in studying soils and identifies several metabolite markers of growth, activity, and other aspects of microbial function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland C. Wilhelm
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
- Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Samuel E. Barnett
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Tami L. Swenson
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Nicholas D. Youngblut
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
- Department of Microbiome Science, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Chantal N. Koechli
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Benjamin P. Bowen
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Trent R. Northen
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, California, USA
| | - Daniel H. Buckley
- School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
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He R, Su Y, Leewis MC, Chu YX, Wang J, Ma RC, Wu D, Zhan LT, Herriott IC, Leigh MB. Low O 2 level enhances CH 4-derived carbon flow into microbial communities in landfill cover soils. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 258:113676. [PMID: 31818614 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Revised: 07/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
CH4 oxidation in landfill cover soils plays a significant role in mitigating CH4 release to the atmosphere. Oxygen availability and the presence of co-contaminants are potentially important factors affecting CH4 oxidation rate and the fate of CH4-derived carbon. In this study, microbial populations that oxidize CH4 and the subsequent conversion of CH4-derived carbon into CO2, soil organic C and biomass C were investigated in landfill cover soils at two O2 tensions, i.e., O2 concentrations of 21% ("sufficient") and 2.5% ("limited") with and without toluene. CH4-derived carbon was primarily converted into CO2 and soil organic C in the landfill cover soils, accounting for more than 80% of CH4 oxidized. Under the O2-sufficient condition, 52.9%-59.6% of CH4-derived carbon was converted into CO2 (CECO2-C), and 29.1%-39.3% was converted into soil organic C (CEorganic-C). A higher CEorganic-C and lower CECO2-C occurred in the O2-limited environment, relative to the O2-sufficient condition. With the addition of toluene, the carbon conversion efficiency of CH4 into biomass C and organic C increased slightly, especially in the O2-limited environment. A more complex microbial network was involved in CH4 assimilation in the O2-limited environment than under the O2-sufficient condition. DNA-based stable isotope probing of the community with 13CH4 revealed that Methylocaldum and Methylosarcina had a higher relative growth rate than other type I methanotrophs in the landfill cover soils, especially at the low O2 concentration, while Methylosinus was more abundant in the treatment with both the high O2 concentration and toluene. These results indicated that O2-limited environments could prompt more CH4-derived carbon to be deposited into soils in the form of biomass C and organic C, thereby enhancing the contribution of CH4-derived carbon to soil community biomass and functionality of landfill cover soils (i.e. reduction of CO2 emission).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruo He
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310012, China; Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
| | - Yao Su
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; Institute of Environment, Resource, Soil and Fertilizer, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, China
| | - Mary-Cathrine Leewis
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska, 99775, USA; US Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | - Yi-Xuan Chu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Ruo-Chan Ma
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Donglei Wu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Liang-Tong Zhan
- MOE Key Laboratory of Soft Soils and Geoenvironmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | | | - Mary Beth Leigh
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska, 99775, USA
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Majdi N, Hette-Tronquart N, Auclair E, Bec A, Chouvelon T, Cognie B, Danger M, Decottignies P, Dessier A, Desvilettes C, Dubois S, Dupuy C, Fritsch C, Gaucherel C, Hedde M, Jabot F, Lefebvre S, Marzloff MP, Pey B, Peyrard N, Powolny T, Sabbadin R, Thébault E, Perga ME. There's no harm in having too much: A comprehensive toolbox of methods in trophic ecology. FOOD WEBS 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2018.e00100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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4
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Jiang B, Jin N, Xing Y, Su Y, Zhang D. Unraveling uncultivable pesticide degraders via stable isotope probing (SIP). Crit Rev Biotechnol 2018; 38:1025-1048. [DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2018.1427697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Bo Jiang
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science & Technology Beijing, Beijing, PR China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, University of Science & Technology Beijing, Beijing, PR China
| | - Naifu Jin
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Yi Xing
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science & Technology Beijing, Beijing, PR China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants, University of Science & Technology Beijing, Beijing, PR China
| | - Yuping Su
- Environmental Science and Engineering College, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, PR China
| | - Dayi Zhang
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
- Environmental Science and Engineering College, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, PR China
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, PR China
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5
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Isotopologue profiling enables insights into dietary routing and metabolism of trophic biomarker fatty acids. CHEMOECOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s00049-017-0236-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Yu H, Si P, Shao W, Qiao X, Yang X, Gao D, Wang Z. Response of enzyme activities and microbial communities to soil amendment with sugar alcohols. Microbiologyopen 2016; 5:604-15. [PMID: 27005019 PMCID: PMC4985594 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2015] [Revised: 02/17/2016] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Changes in microbial community structure are widely known to occur after soil amendment with low-molecular-weight organic compounds; however, there is little information on concurrent changes in soil microbial functional diversity and enzyme activities, especially following sorbitol and mannitol amendment. Soil microbial functional diversity and enzyme activities can be impacted by sorbitol and mannitol, which in turn can alter soil fertility and quality. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of sorbitol and mannitol addition on microbial functional diversity and enzyme activities. The results demonstrated that sorbitol and mannitol addition altered the soil microbial community structure and improved enzyme activities. Specifically, the addition of sorbitol enhanced the community-level physiological profile (CLPP) compared with the control, whereas the CLPP was significantly inhibited by the addition of mannitol. The results of a varimax rotated component matrix demonstrated that carbohydrates, polymers, and carboxylic acids affected the soil microbial functional structure. Additionally, we found that enzyme activities were affected by both the concentration and type of inputs. In the presence of high concentrations of sorbitol, the urease, catalase, alkaline phosphatase, β-glucosidase, and N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase activities were significantly increased, while invertase activity was decreased. Similarly, this increase in invertase, catalase, and alkaline phosphatase and N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase activities was especially evident after mannitol addition, and urease activity was only slightly affected. In contrast, β-glucosidase activity was suppressed at the highest concentration. These results indicate that microbial community diversity and enzyme activities are significantly affected by soil amendment with sorbitol and mannitol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huili Yu
- Zhengzhou Fruit Research InstituteChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesZhengzhouHenan450000China
| | - Peng Si
- Zhengzhou Fruit Research InstituteChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesZhengzhouHenan450000China
| | - Wei Shao
- Zhengzhou Fruit Research InstituteChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesZhengzhouHenan450000China
| | - Xiansheng Qiao
- Zhengzhou Fruit Research InstituteChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesZhengzhouHenan450000China
| | - Xiaojing Yang
- Zhengzhou Fruit Research InstituteChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesZhengzhouHenan450000China
| | - Dengtao Gao
- Zhengzhou Fruit Research InstituteChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesZhengzhouHenan450000China
| | - Zhiqiang Wang
- Zhengzhou Fruit Research InstituteChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesZhengzhouHenan450000China
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7
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Wegener G, Kellermann MY, Elvert M. Tracking activity and function of microorganisms by stable isotope probing of membrane lipids. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2016; 41:43-52. [PMID: 27179643 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2016.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2015] [Revised: 04/27/2016] [Accepted: 04/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Microorganisms in soils and sediments are highly abundant and phylogenetically diverse, but their specific metabolic activity and function in the environment is often not well constrained. To address this critical aspect in environmental biogeochemistry, different methods involving stable isotope probing (SIP) and detection of the isotope label in a variety of molecular compounds have been developed. Here we review recent progress in lipid-SIP, a technique that combines the assimilation of specific 13C-labeled metabolic substrates such as inorganic carbon, methane, glucose and amino acids into diagnostic membrane lipid compounds. Using the structural characteristics of certain lipid types in combination with genetic molecular techniques, the SIP approach reveals the activity and function of distinct microbial groups in the environment. More recently, deuterium labeling in the form of deuterated water (D2O) extended the lipid-SIP portfolio. Since lipid biosynthetic pathways involve hydrogen (H+) uptake from water, lipid production can be inferred from the detection of D-assimilation into these compounds. Furthermore, by combining D2O and 13C-inorganic carbon (IC) labeling in a dual-SIP approach, rates of auto- and heterotrophic carbon fixation can be estimated. We discuss the design, analytical prerequisites, data processing and interpretation of single and dual-SIP experiments and highlight a case study on anaerobic methanotrophic communities inhabiting hydrothermally heated marine sediments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunter Wegener
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstraße 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany; MARUM Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, Leobener Straße, 28359 Bremen, Germany.
| | - Matthias Y Kellermann
- Department of Earth Science and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Marcus Elvert
- MARUM Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, Leobener Straße, 28359 Bremen, Germany
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8
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Riverbed methanotrophy sustained by high carbon conversion efficiency. ISME JOURNAL 2015; 9:2304-14. [PMID: 26057842 PMCID: PMC4579481 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2015.98] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2014] [Revised: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 05/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Our understanding of the role of freshwaters in the global carbon cycle is being revised, but there is still a lack of data, especially for the cycling of methane, in rivers and streams. Unravelling the role of methanotrophy is key to determining the fate of methane in rivers. Here we focus on the carbon conversion efficiency (CCE) of methanotrophy, that is, how much organic carbon is produced per mole of CH4 oxidised, and how this is influenced by variation in methanotroph communities. First, we show that the CCE of riverbed methanotrophs is consistently high (~50%) across a wide range of methane concentrations (~10–7000 nM) and despite a 10-fold span in the rate of methane oxidation. Then, we show that this high conversion efficiency is largely conserved (50%± confidence interval 44–56%) across pronounced variation in the key functional gene (70 operational taxonomic units (OTUs)), particulate methane monooxygenase (pmoA), and marked shifts in the abundance of Type I and Type II methanotrophs in eight replicate chalk streams. These data may suggest a degree of functional redundancy within the variable methanotroph community inhabiting these streams and that some of the variation in pmoA may reflect a suite of enzymes of different methane affinities which enables such a large range of methane concentrations to be oxidised. The latter, coupled to their high CCE, enables the methanotrophs to sustain net production throughout the year, regardless of the marked temporal and spatial changes that occur in methane.
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9
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Sensitive, Efficient Quantitation of 13C-Enriched Nucleic Acids via Ultrahigh-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry for Applications in Stable Isotope Probing. Appl Environ Microbiol 2014; 80:7206-11. [PMID: 25217022 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02223-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2014] [Accepted: 09/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Stable isotope probing (SIP) of nucleic acids is a powerful tool for studying the functional traits of microbial populations within complex communities, but SIP involves a number of technical challenges. Many of the difficulties in DNA-SIP and RNA-SIP experiments can be effectively overcome with an efficient, sensitive method for quantitating the isotopic enrichment of nucleic acids. Here, we present a sensitive method for quantitating (13)C enrichment of nucleic acids, requiring a few nanograms of sample, and we demonstrate its utility in typical DNA-SIP and RNA-SIP experiments. All five nucleobases (adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine, and uracil) were separated and detected by using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. We detected all isotopic species in samples with as low as 1.5 atom% (13)C above natural abundance, using 1-ng loadings. Quantitation was used to characterize the isotopic enrichment kinetics of cellulose- and lignin-based microcosm experiments and to optimize the recovery of enriched nucleic acids. Application of our method will minimize the quantity of expensive isotopically labeled substrates required and reduce the risk of failed experiments due to insufficient recovery of labeled nucleic acids for sequencing library preparation.
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Morris BEL, Henneberger R, Huber H, Moissl-Eichinger C. Microbial syntrophy: interaction for the common good. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2013; 37:384-406. [PMID: 23480449 DOI: 10.1111/1574-6976.12019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 457] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2012] [Revised: 02/25/2013] [Accepted: 02/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Classical definitions of syntrophy focus on a process, performed through metabolic interaction between dependent microbial partners, such as the degradation of complex organic compounds under anoxic conditions. However, examples from past and current scientific discoveries suggest that a new, simple but wider definition is necessary to cover all aspects of microbial syntrophy. We suggest the term 'obligately mutualistic metabolism', which still focuses on microbial metabolic cooperation but also includes an ecological aspect: the benefit for both partners. By the combined metabolic activity of microorganisms, endergonic reactions can become exergonic through the efficient removal of products and therefore enable a microbial community to survive with minimal energy resources. Here, we explain the principles of classical and non-classical syntrophy and illustrate the concepts with various examples. We present biochemical fundamentals that allow microorganism to survive under a range of environmental conditions and to drive important biogeochemical processes. Novel technologies have contributed to the understanding of syntrophic relationships in cultured and uncultured systems. Recent research highlights that obligately mutualistic metabolism is not limited to certain metabolic pathways nor to certain environments or microorganisms. This beneficial microbial interaction is not restricted to the transfer of reducing agents such as hydrogen or formate, but can also involve the exchange of organic, sulfurous- and nitrogenous compounds or the removal of toxic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon E L Morris
- Microbiology, Institute for Biology II, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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11
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Mills CT, Slater GF, Dias RF, Carr SA, Reddy CM, Schmidt R, Mandernack KW. The relative contribution of methanotrophs to microbial communities and carbon cycling in soil overlying a coal-bed methane seep. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2013; 84:474-94. [PMID: 23346979 DOI: 10.1111/1574-6941.12079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2012] [Revised: 01/17/2013] [Accepted: 01/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Seepage of coal-bed methane (CBM) through soils is a potential source of atmospheric CH4 and also a likely source of ancient (i.e. (14) C-dead) carbon to soil microbial communities. Natural abundance (13) C and (14) C compositions of bacterial membrane phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) and soil gas CO2 and CH4 were used to assess the incorporation of CBM-derived carbon into methanotrophs and other members of the soil microbial community. Concentrations of type I and type II methanotroph PLFA biomarkers (16:1ω8c and 18:1ω8c, respectively) were elevated in CBM-impacted soils compared with a control site. Comparison of PLFA and 16s rDNA data suggested type I and II methanotroph populations were well estimated and overestimated by their PLFA biomarkers, respectively. The δ(13) C values of PLFAs common in type I and II methanotrophs were as negative as -67‰ and consistent with the assimilation of CBM. PLFAs more indicative of nonmethanotrophic bacteria had δ(13) C values that were intermediate indicating assimilation of both plant- and CBM-derived carbon. Δ(14) C values of select PLFAs (-351 to -936‰) indicated similar patterns of CBM assimilation by methanotrophs and nonmethanotrophs and were used to estimate that 35-91% of carbon assimilated by nonmethanotrophs was derived from CBM depending on time of sampling and soil depth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher T Mills
- Department of Chemistry and Geochemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA
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Uhlik O, Leewis MC, Strejcek M, Musilova L, Mackova M, Leigh MB, Macek T. Stable isotope probing in the metagenomics era: a bridge towards improved bioremediation. Biotechnol Adv 2012; 31:154-65. [PMID: 23022353 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2012.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2012] [Revised: 09/17/2012] [Accepted: 09/17/2012] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Microbial biodegradation and biotransformation reactions are essential to most bioremediation processes, yet the specific organisms, genes, and mechanisms involved are often not well understood. Stable isotope probing (SIP) enables researchers to directly link microbial metabolic capability to phylogenetic and metagenomic information within a community context by tracking isotopically labeled substances into phylogenetically and functionally informative biomarkers. SIP is thus applicable as a tool for the identification of active members of the microbial community and associated genes integral to the community functional potential, such as biodegradative processes. The rapid evolution of SIP over the last decade and integration with metagenomics provide researchers with a much deeper insight into potential biodegradative genes, processes, and applications, thereby enabling an improved mechanistic understanding that can facilitate advances in the field of bioremediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ondrej Uhlik
- Institute of Chemical Technology Prague, Faculty of Food and Biochemical Technology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Technicka 3, 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic.
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