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Valentin-Alvarado LE, Appler KE, De Anda V, Schoelmerich MC, West-Roberts J, Kivenson V, Crits-Christoph A, Ly L, Sachdeva R, Greening C, Savage DF, Baker BJ, Banfield JF. Asgard archaea modulate potential methanogenesis substrates in wetland soil. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6384. [PMID: 39085194 PMCID: PMC11291895 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49872-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The roles of Asgard archaea in eukaryogenesis and marine biogeochemical cycles are well studied, yet their contributions in soil ecosystems remain unknown. Of particular interest are Asgard archaeal contributions to methane cycling in wetland soils. To investigate this, we reconstructed two complete genomes for soil-associated Atabeyarchaeia, a new Asgard lineage, and a complete genome of Freyarchaeia, and predicted their metabolism in situ. Metatranscriptomics reveals expression of genes for [NiFe]-hydrogenases, pyruvate oxidation and carbon fixation via the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway. Also expressed are genes encoding enzymes for amino acid metabolism, anaerobic aldehyde oxidation, hydrogen peroxide detoxification and carbohydrate breakdown to acetate and formate. Overall, soil-associated Asgard archaea are predicted to include non-methanogenic acetogens, highlighting their potential role in carbon cycling in terrestrial environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis E Valentin-Alvarado
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Kathryn E Appler
- Department of Marine Science, University of Texas at Austin; Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, TX, USA
| | - Valerie De Anda
- Department of Marine Science, University of Texas at Austin; Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, TX, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Marie C Schoelmerich
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
- Department of Environmental Systems Sciences; ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Jacob West-Roberts
- Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Veronika Kivenson
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Alexander Crits-Christoph
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Cultivarium, Watertown, MA, USA
| | - Lynn Ly
- Oxford Nanopore Technologies Inc, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rohan Sachdeva
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Chris Greening
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute; Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - David F Savage
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, USA
| | - Brett J Baker
- Department of Marine Science, University of Texas at Austin; Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, TX, USA.
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
| | - Jillian F Banfield
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA.
- Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute; Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
- Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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Chen Y, Dong X, Sun Z, Xu C, Zhang X, Qin S, Geng W, Cao H, Zhai B, Li X, Wu N. Potential coupling of microbial methane, nitrogen, and sulphur cycling in the Okinawa Trough cold seep sediments. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0349023. [PMID: 38690913 PMCID: PMC11237511 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03490-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The Okinawa Trough (OT) is a back-arc basin with a wide distribution of active cold seep systems. However, our understanding of the metabolic function of microbial communities in the cold seep sediments of the OT remains limited. In this study, we investigated the vertical profiles of functional genes involved in methane, nitrogen, and sulphur cycling in the cold seep sediments of the OT. Furthermore, we explored the possible coupling mechanisms between these biogeochemical cycles. The study revealed that the majority of genes associated with the nitrogen and sulphur cycles were most abundant in the surface sediment layers. However, only the key genes responsible for sulphur disproportionation (sor), nitrogen fixation (nifDKH), and methane metabolism (mcrABG) were more prevalent within sulfate-methane transition zone (SMTZ). Significant positive correlations (P < 0.05) were observed between functional genes involved in sulphur oxidation, thiosulphate disproportionation with denitrification, and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA), as well as between AOM/methanogenesis and nitrogen fixation, and between sulphur disproportionation and AOM. A genome of Filomicrobium (class Alphaproteobacteria) has demonstrated potential in chemoautotrophic activities, particularly in coupling DNRA and denitrification with sulphur oxidation. Additionally, the characterized sulfate reducers such as Syntrophobacterales have been found to be capable of utilizing nitrate as an electron acceptor. The predominant methanogenic/methanotrophic groups in the OT sediments were identified as H2-dependent methylotrophic methanogens (Methanomassiliicoccales and Methanofastidiosales) and ANME-1a. This study offered a thorough understanding of microbial ecosystems in the OT cold seep sediments, emphasizing their contribution to nutrient cycling.IMPORTANCEThe Okinawa Trough (OT) is a back-arc basin formed by extension within the continental lithosphere behind the Ryukyu Trench arc system. Cold seeps are widespread in the OT. While some studies have explored microbial communities in OT cold seep sediments, their metabolic potential remains largely unknown. In this study, we used metagenomic analysis to enhance comprehension of the microbial community's role in nutrient cycling and proposed hypotheses on the coupling process and mechanisms involved in biogeochemical cycles. It was revealed that multiple metabolic pathways can be performed by a single organism or microbes that interact with each other to carry out various biogeochemical cycling. This data set provided a genomic road map on microbial nutrient cycling in OT sediment microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Chen
- Key Laboratory of Gas Hydrate, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Mineral Resources, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiyang Dong
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, China
| | - Zhilei Sun
- Key Laboratory of Gas Hydrate, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Mineral Resources, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao, China
| | - Cuiling Xu
- Key Laboratory of Gas Hydrate, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Mineral Resources, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao, China
| | - Xilin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Gas Hydrate, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Mineral Resources, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao, China
| | - Shuangshuang Qin
- Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Wei Geng
- Key Laboratory of Gas Hydrate, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Mineral Resources, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao, China
| | - Hong Cao
- Key Laboratory of Gas Hydrate, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Mineral Resources, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao, China
| | - Bin Zhai
- Key Laboratory of Gas Hydrate, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Mineral Resources, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao, China
| | - Xuecheng Li
- China Offshore Fugro Geosolutions (Shenzhen)Co.Ltd., Shenzhen, China
| | - Nengyou Wu
- Key Laboratory of Gas Hydrate, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Mineral Resources, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao, China
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3
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Demin KA, Prazdnova EV, Minkina TM, Gorovtsov AV. Sulfate-reducing bacteria unearthed: ecological functions of the diverse prokaryotic group in terrestrial environments. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0139023. [PMID: 38551370 PMCID: PMC11022543 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01390-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Sulfate-reducing prokaryotes (SRPs) are essential microorganisms that play crucial roles in various ecological processes. Even though SRPs have been studied for over a century, there are still gaps in our understanding of their biology. In the past two decades, a significant amount of data on SRP ecology has been accumulated. This review aims to consolidate that information, focusing on SRPs in soils, their relation to the rare biosphere, uncultured sulfate reducers, and their interactions with other organisms in terrestrial ecosystems. SRPs in soils form part of the rare biosphere and contribute to various processes as a low-density population. The data reveal a diverse range of sulfate-reducing taxa intricately involved in terrestrial carbon and sulfur cycles. While some taxa like Desulfitobacterium and Desulfosporosinus are well studied, others are more enigmatic. For example, members of the Acidobacteriota phylum appear to hold significant importance for the terrestrial sulfur cycle. Many aspects of SRP ecology remain mysterious, including sulfate reduction in different bacterial phyla, interactions with bacteria and fungi in soils, and the existence of soil sulfate-reducing archaea. Utilizing metagenomic, metatranscriptomic, and culture-dependent approaches will help uncover the diversity, functional potential, and adaptations of SRPs in the global environment.
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Hessler T, Harrison ST, Banfield JF, Huddy RJ. Harnessing Fermentation May Enhance the Performance of Biological Sulfate-Reducing Bioreactors. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:2830-2846. [PMID: 38301118 PMCID: PMC10867827 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Biological sulfate reduction (BSR) represents a promising strategy for bioremediation of sulfate-rich waste streams, yet the impact of metabolic interactions on performance is largely unexplored. Here, genome-resolved metagenomics was used to characterize 17 microbial communities in reactors treating synthetic sulfate-contaminated solutions. Reactors were supplemented with lactate or acetate and a small amount of fermentable substrate. Of the 163 genomes representing all the abundant bacteria, 130 encode 321 NiFe and FeFe hydrogenases and all genomes of the 22 sulfate-reducing microorganisms (SRM) encode genes for H2 uptake. We observed lactate oxidation solely in the first packed bed reactor zone, with propionate and acetate oxidation in the middle and predominantly acetate oxidation in the effluent zone. The energetics of these reactions are very different, yet sulfate reduction kinetics were unaffected by the type of electron donor available. We hypothesize that the comparable rates, despite the typically slow growth of SRM on acetate, are a result of the consumption of H2 generated by fermentation. This is supported by the sustained performance of a predominantly acetate-supplemented stirred tank reactor dominated by diverse fermentative bacteria encoding FeFe hydrogenase genes and SRM capable of acetate and hydrogen consumption and CO2 assimilation. Thus, addition of fermentable substrates to stimulate syntrophic relationships may improve the performance of BSR reactors supplemented with inexpensive acetate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Hessler
- The
Center for Bioprocess Engineering Research, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape
Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
- The
Innovative Genomics Institute at the University of California, Berkeley, California CA94720, United
States
- The
Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, California CA94720, United States
- Environmental
Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California CA94720, United States
| | - Susan T.L. Harrison
- The
Center for Bioprocess Engineering Research, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape
Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
- The Future
Water Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
| | - Jillian F. Banfield
- The
Innovative Genomics Institute at the University of California, Berkeley, California CA94720, United
States
- The
Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, California CA94720, United States
- The
Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, California CA94720, United States
| | - Robert J. Huddy
- The
Center for Bioprocess Engineering Research, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape
Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
- The Future
Water Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
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5
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Zhang C, Fang YX, Yin X, Lai H, Kuang Z, Zhang T, Xu XP, Wegener G, Wang JH, Dong X. The majority of microorganisms in gas hydrate-bearing subseafloor sediments ferment macromolecules. MICROBIOME 2023; 11:37. [PMID: 36864529 PMCID: PMC9979476 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01482-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gas hydrate-bearing subseafloor sediments harbor a large number of microorganisms. Within these sediments, organic matter and upward-migrating methane are important carbon and energy sources fueling a light-independent biosphere. However, the type of metabolism that dominates the deep subseafloor of the gas hydrate zone is poorly constrained. Here we studied the microbial communities in gas hydrate-rich sediments up to 49 m below the seafloor recovered by drilling in the South China Sea. We focused on distinct geochemical conditions and performed metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses to characterize microbial communities and their role in carbon mineralization. RESULTS Comparative microbial community analysis revealed that samples above and in sulfate-methane interface (SMI) zones were clearly distinguished from those below the SMI. Chloroflexota were most abundant above the SMI, whereas Caldatribacteriota dominated below the SMI. Verrucomicrobiota, Bathyarchaeia, and Hadarchaeota were similarly present in both types of sediment. The genomic inventory and transcriptional activity suggest an important role in the fermentation of macromolecules. In contrast, sulfate reducers and methanogens that catalyze the consumption or production of commonly observed chemical compounds in sediments are rare. Methanotrophs and alkanotrophs that anaerobically grow on alkanes were also identified to be at low abundances. The ANME-1 group actively thrived in or slightly below the current SMI. Members from Heimdallarchaeia were found to encode the potential for anaerobic oxidation of short-chain hydrocarbons. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that the fermentation of macromolecules is the predominant energy source for microorganisms in deep subseafloor sediments that are experiencing upward methane fluxes. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuwen Zhang
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, China
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, China
| | - Yun-Xin Fang
- Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Ministry of Natural Resources, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiuran Yin
- Faculty of Biology/Chemistry, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- MARUM, Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - Hongfei Lai
- Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Ministry of Natural Resources, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zenggui Kuang
- Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Ministry of Natural Resources, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tianxueyu Zhang
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Xiang-Po Xu
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Gunter Wegener
- MARUM, Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - Jiang-Hai Wang
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, China.
| | - Xiyang Dong
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, China.
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, China.
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Dong X, Peng Y, Wang M, Woods L, Wu W, Wang Y, Xiao X, Li J, Jia K, Greening C, Shao Z, Hubert CRJ. Evolutionary ecology of microbial populations inhabiting deep sea sediments associated with cold seeps. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1127. [PMID: 36854684 PMCID: PMC9974965 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36877-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Deep sea cold seep sediments host abundant and diverse microbial populations that significantly influence biogeochemical cycles. While numerous studies have revealed their community structure and functional capabilities, little is known about genetic heterogeneity within species. Here, we examine intraspecies diversity patterns of 39 abundant species identified in sediment layers down to 430 cm below the sea floor across six cold seep sites. These populations are grouped as aerobic methane-oxidizing bacteria, anaerobic methanotrophic archaea and sulfate-reducing bacteria. Different evolutionary trajectories are observed at the genomic level among these physiologically and phylogenetically diverse populations, with generally low rates of homologous recombination and strong purifying selection. Functional genes related to methane (pmoA and mcrA) and sulfate (dsrA) metabolisms are under strong purifying selection in most species investigated. These genes differ in evolutionary trajectories across phylogenetic clades but are functionally conserved across sites. Intrapopulation diversification of genomes and their mcrA and dsrA genes is depth-dependent and subject to different selection pressure throughout the sediment column redox zones at different sites. These results highlight the interplay between ecological processes and the evolution of key bacteria and archaea in deep sea cold seep extreme environments, shedding light on microbial adaptation in the subseafloor biosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiyang Dong
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China.
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, 519000, China.
| | - Yongyi Peng
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, 519082, China
| | - Muhua Wang
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, 519000, China
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, 519082, China
| | - Laura Woods
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Wenxue Wu
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, 519000, China
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, 519082, China
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Institute for Ocean Engineering, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Xi Xiao
- Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Guangzhou, 510075, China
| | - Jiwei Li
- Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, 572000, China
| | - Kuntong Jia
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, 519082, China
| | - Chris Greening
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Zongze Shao
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China.
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, 519000, China.
| | - Casey R J Hubert
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
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Vosseberg J, Stolker D, von der Dunk SHA, Snel B. Integrating Phylogenetics With Intron Positions Illuminates the Origin of the Complex Spliceosome. Mol Biol Evol 2023; 40:msad011. [PMID: 36631250 PMCID: PMC9887622 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msad011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic genes are characterized by the presence of introns that are removed from pre-mRNA by a spliceosome. This ribonucleoprotein complex is comprised of multiple RNA molecules and over a hundred proteins, which makes it one of the most complex molecular machines that originated during the prokaryote-to-eukaryote transition. Previous works have established that these introns and the spliceosomal core originated from self-splicing introns in prokaryotes. Yet, how the spliceosomal core expanded by recruiting many additional proteins remains largely elusive. In this study, we use phylogenetic analyses to infer the evolutionary history of 145 proteins that we could trace back to the spliceosome in the last eukaryotic common ancestor. We found that an overabundance of proteins derived from ribosome-related processes was added to the prokaryote-derived core. Extensive duplications of these proteins substantially increased the complexity of the emerging spliceosome. By comparing the intron positions between spliceosomal paralogs, we infer that most spliceosomal complexity postdates the spread of introns through the proto-eukaryotic genome. The reconstruction of early spliceosomal evolution provides insight into the driving forces behind the emergence of complexes with many proteins during eukaryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Vosseberg
- Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, 6700 EH Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Daan Stolker
- Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Samuel H A von der Dunk
- Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Berend Snel
- Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CH Utrecht, the Netherlands
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Zhao R, Farag IF, Jørgensen SL, Biddle JF. Occurrence, Diversity, and Genomes of " Candidatus Patescibacteria" along the Early Diagenesis of Marine Sediments. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0140922. [PMID: 36468881 PMCID: PMC9765117 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01409-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The phylum "Candidatus Patescibacteria" (or Candidate Phyla Radiation [CPR]) accounts for roughly one-quarter of microbial diversity on Earth, but the presence and diversity of these bacteria in marine sediments have been rarely charted. Here, we investigate the abundance, diversity, and metabolic capacities of CPR bacteria in three sediment sites (Mohns Ridge, North Pond, and Costa Rica Margin) with samples covering a wide range of redox zones formed during the early diagenesis of organic matter. Through metagenome sequencing, we found that all investigated sediment horizons contain "Ca. Patescibacteria" (0.4 to 28% of the total communities), which are affiliated with the classes "Ca. Paceibacteria," "Ca. Gracilibacteria," "Ca. Microgenomatia," "Ca. Saccharimonadia," "Ca. ABY1," and "Ca. WWE3." However, only a subset of the diversity of marine sediment "Ca. Patescibacteria," especially the classes "Ca. Paceibacteria" and "Ca. Gracilibacteria," can be captured by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing with commonly used universal primers. We recovered 11 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of CPR from these sediments, most of which are novel at the family or genus level in the "Ca. Paceibacteria" class and are missed by the amplicon sequencing. While individual MAGs are confined to specific anoxic niches, the lack of capacities to utilize the prevailing terminal electron acceptors indicates that they may not be directly selected by the local redox conditions. These CPR bacteria lack essential biosynthesis pathways and may use a truncated glycolysis pathway to conserve energy as fermentative organotrophs. Our findings suggest that marine sediments harbor some novel yet widespread CPR bacteria during the early diagenesis of organic matter, which needs to be considered in population dynamics assessments in this vast environment. IMPORTANCE Ultrasmall-celled "Ca. Patescibacteria" have been estimated to account for one-quarter of the total microbial diversity on Earth, the parasitic lifestyle of which may exert a profound control on the overall microbial population size of the local ecosystems. However, their diversity and metabolic functions in marine sediments, one of the largest yet understudied ecosystems on Earth, remain virtually uncharacterized. By applying cultivation-independent approaches to a range of sediment redox zones, we reveal that "Ca. Patescibacteria" members are rare but widespread regardless of the prevailing geochemical conditions. These bacteria are affiliated with novel branches of "Ca. Patescibacteria" and have been largely missed in marker gene-based surveys. They do not have respiration capacity but may conserve energy by fermenting organic compounds from their episymbiotic hosts. Our findings suggest that these novel "Ca. Patescibacteria" are among the previously overlooked microbes in diverse marine sediments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhao
- School of Marine Science and Policy, University of Delaware, Lewes, Delaware, USA
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ibrahim F. Farag
- School of Marine Science and Policy, University of Delaware, Lewes, Delaware, USA
| | - Steffen L. Jørgensen
- Centre for Deep Sea Research, Department of Earth Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Jennifer F. Biddle
- School of Marine Science and Policy, University of Delaware, Lewes, Delaware, USA
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9
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Liu Y, Zhang Z, Ji M, Hu A, Wang J, Jing H, Liu K, Xiao X, Zhao W. Comparison of prokaryotes between Mount Everest and the Mariana Trench. MICROBIOME 2022; 10:215. [PMID: 36476562 PMCID: PMC9727886 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-022-01403-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mount Everest and the Mariana Trench represent the highest and deepest places on Earth, respectively. They are geographically separated, with distinct extreme environmental parameters that provide unique habitats for prokaryotes. Comparison of prokaryotes between Mount Everest and the Mariana Trench will provide a unique perspective to understanding the composition and distribution of environmental microbiomes on Earth. RESULTS Here, we compared prokaryotic communities between Mount Everest and the Mariana Trench based on shotgun metagenomic analysis. Analyzing 25 metagenomes and 1176 metagenome-assembled genomes showed distinct taxonomic compositions between Mount Everest and the Mariana Trench, with little taxa overlap, and significant differences in genome size, GC content, and predicted optimal growth temperature. However, community metabolic capabilities exhibited striking commonality, with > 90% of metabolic modules overlapping among samples of Mount Everest and the Mariana Trench, with the only exception for CO2 fixations (photoautotrophy in Mount Everest but chemoautotrophy in the Mariana Trench). Most metabolic pathways were common but performed by distinct taxa in the two extreme habitats, even including some specialized metabolic pathways, such as the versatile degradation of various refractory organic matters, heavy metal metabolism (e.g., As and Se), stress resistance, and antioxidation. The metabolic commonality indicated the overall consistent roles of prokaryotes in elemental cycling and common adaptation strategies to overcome the distinct stress conditions despite the intuitively huge differences in Mount Everest and the Mariana Trench. CONCLUSION Our results, the first comparison between prokaryotes in the highest and the deepest habitats on Earth, may highlight the principles of prokaryotic diversity: although taxa are habitat-specific, primary metabolic functions could be always conserved. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongqin Liu
- Center for Pan-third Pole Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhihao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mukan Ji
- Center for Pan-third Pole Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Aoran Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- International Center for Deep Life Investigation (IC-DLI), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Jing Wang
- International Center for Deep Life Investigation (IC-DLI), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- SJTU Yazhou Bay Institute of Deepsea Sci-Tech, Yongyou Industrial Park, Sanya, 572024, China
| | - Hongmei Jing
- Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, 572000, China
| | - Keshao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiang Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
- International Center for Deep Life Investigation (IC-DLI), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
- SJTU Yazhou Bay Institute of Deepsea Sci-Tech, Yongyou Industrial Park, Sanya, 572024, China.
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, Guangdong, China.
| | - Weishu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
- International Center for Deep Life Investigation (IC-DLI), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
- SJTU Yazhou Bay Institute of Deepsea Sci-Tech, Yongyou Industrial Park, Sanya, 572024, China.
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10
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Wegener G, Laso-Pérez R, Orphan VJ, Boetius A. Anaerobic Degradation of Alkanes by Marine Archaea. Annu Rev Microbiol 2022; 76:553-577. [PMID: 35917471 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-111021-045911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Alkanes are saturated apolar hydrocarbons that range from its simplest form, methane, to high-molecular-weight compounds. Although alkanes were once considered biologically recalcitrant under anaerobic conditions, microbiological investigations have now identified several microbial taxa that can anaerobically degrade alkanes. Here we review recent discoveries in the anaerobic oxidation of alkanes with a specific focus on archaea that use specific methyl coenzyme M reductases to activate their substrates. Our understanding of the diversity of uncultured alkane-oxidizing archaea has expanded through the use of environmental metagenomics and enrichment cultures of syntrophic methane-, ethane-, propane-, and butane-oxidizing marine archaea with sulfate-reducing bacteria. A recently cultured group of archaea directly couples long-chain alkane degradation with methane formation, expanding the range of substrates used for methanogenesis. This article summarizes the rapidly growing knowledge of the diversity, physiology, and habitat distribution of alkane-degrading archaea. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Microbiology, Volume 76 is September 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunter Wegener
- MARUM, Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University Bremen, Bremen, Germany; , .,Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - Rafael Laso-Pérez
- MARUM, Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University Bremen, Bremen, Germany; , .,Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany.,Current affiliation: Systems Biology Department, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Victoria J Orphan
- MARUM, Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University Bremen, Bremen, Germany; , .,Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences and Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA;
| | - Antje Boetius
- MARUM, Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University Bremen, Bremen, Germany; , .,Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany.,Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany;
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11
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Abstract
Members of candidate Asgardarchaeota superphylum appear to share numerous eukaryotic-like attributes thus being broadly explored for their relevance to eukaryogenesis. On the contrast, the ecological roles of Asgard archaea remains understudied. Asgard archaea have been frequently associated to low-oxygen aquatic sedimentary environments worldwide spanning a broad but not extreme salinity range. To date, the available information on diversity and potential biogeochemical roles of Asgardarchaeota mostly sourced from marine habitats and to a much lesser extend from true saline environments (i.e., > 3% w/v total salinity). Here, we provide an overview on diversity and ecological implications of Asgard archaea distributed across saline environments and briefly explore their metagenome-resolved potential for osmoadaptation. Loki-, Thor- and Heimdallarchaeota are the dominant Asgard clades in saline habitats where they might employ anaerobic/microaerophilic organic matter degradation and autotrophic carbon fixation. Homologs of primary solute uptake ABC transporters seemingly prevail in Thorarchaeota, whereas those putatively involved in trehalose and ectoine biosynthesis were mostly inferred in Lokiarchaeota. We speculate that Asgardarchaeota might adopt compatible solute-accumulating ('salt-out') strategy as response to salt stress. Our current understanding on the distribution, ecology and salt-adaptive strategies of Asgardarchaeota in saline environments are, however, limited by insufficient sampling and incompleteness of the available metagenome-assembled genomes. Extensive sampling combined with 'omics'- and cultivation-based approaches seem, therefore, crucial to gain deeper knowledge on this particularly intriguing archaeal lineage.
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12
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Garcia PS, Gribaldo S, Borrel G. Diversity and Evolution of Methane-Related Pathways in Archaea. Annu Rev Microbiol 2022; 76:727-755. [PMID: 35759872 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-041020-024935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Methane is one of the most important greenhouse gases on Earth and holds an important place in the global carbon cycle. Archaea are the only organisms that use methanogenesis to produce energy and rely on the methyl-coenzyme M reductase (Mcr) complex. Over the last decade, new results have significantly reshaped our view of the diversity of methane-related pathways in the Archaea. Many new lineages that synthesize or use methane have been identified across the whole archaeal tree, leading to a greatly expanded diversity of substrates and mechanisms. In this review, we present the state of the art of these advances and how they challenge established scenarios of the origin and evolution of methanogenesis, and we discuss the potential trajectories that may have led to this strikingly wide range of metabolisms.Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Microbiology, Volume 76 is September 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Simon Garcia
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, UMR CNRS 6047, Evolutionary Biology of the Microbial Cell, Paris, France; ,
| | - Simonetta Gribaldo
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, UMR CNRS 6047, Evolutionary Biology of the Microbial Cell, Paris, France; ,
| | - Guillaume Borrel
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, UMR CNRS 6047, Evolutionary Biology of the Microbial Cell, Paris, France; ,
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13
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Lemaire O, Wagner T. A Structural View of Alkyl-Coenzyme M Reductases, the First Step of Alkane Anaerobic Oxidation Catalyzed by Archaea. Biochemistry 2022; 61:805-821. [PMID: 35500274 PMCID: PMC9118554 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Microbial anaerobic oxidation of alkanes intrigues the scientific community by way of its impact on the global carbon cycle, and its biotechnological applications. Archaea are proposed to degrade short- and long-chain alkanes to CO2 by reversing methanogenesis, a theoretically reversible process. The pathway would start with alkane activation, an endergonic step catalyzed by methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR) homologues that would generate alkyl-thiols carried by coenzyme M. While the methane-generating MCR found in methanogens has been well characterized, the enzymatic activity of the putative alkane-fixing counterparts has not been validated so far. Such an absence of biochemical investigations contrasts with the current explosion of metagenomics data, which draws new potential alkane-oxidizing pathways in various archaeal phyla. Therefore, validating the physiological function of these putative alkane-fixing machines and investigating how their structures, catalytic mechanisms, and cofactors vary depending on the targeted alkane have become urgent needs. The first structural insights into the methane- and ethane-capturing MCRs highlighted unsuspected differences and proposed some explanations for their substrate specificity. This Perspective reviews the current physiological, biochemical, and structural knowledge of alkyl-CoM reductases and offers fresh ideas about the expected mechanistic and chemical differences among members of this broad family. We conclude with the challenges of the investigation of these particular enzymes, which might one day generate biofuels for our modern society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier
N. Lemaire
- Max Planck Institute for
Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstraße 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Tristan Wagner
- Max Planck Institute for
Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstraße 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
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