1
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Pallen MJ. The dynamic history of prokaryotic phyla: discovery, diversity and division. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2024; 74:006508. [PMID: 39250184 PMCID: PMC11382960 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.006508] [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: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Here, I review the dynamic history of prokaryotic phyla. Following leads set by Darwin, Haeckel and Woese, the concept of phylum has evolved from a group sharing common phenotypes to a set of organisms sharing a common ancestry, with modern taxonomy based on phylogenetic classifications drawn from macromolecular sequences. Phyla came as surprising latecomers to the formalities of prokaryotic nomenclature in 2021. Since then names have been validly published for 46 prokaryotic phyla, replacing some established names with neologisms, prompting criticism and debate within the scientific community. Molecular barcoding enabled phylogenetic analysis of microbial ecosystems without cultivation, leading to the identification of candidate divisions (or phyla) from diverse environments. The introduction of metagenome-assembled genomes marked a significant advance in identifying and classifying uncultured microbial phyla. The lumper-splitter dichotomy has led to disagreements, with experts cautioning against the pressure to create a profusion of new phyla and prominent databases adopting a conservative stance. The Candidatus designation has been widely used to provide provisional status to uncultured prokaryotic taxa, with phyla named under this convention now clearly surpassing those with validly published names. The Genome Taxonomy Database (GTDB) has offered a stable, standardized prokaryotic taxonomy with normalized taxonomic ranks, which has led to both lumping and splitting of pre-existing phyla. The GTDB framework introduced unwieldy alphanumeric placeholder labels, prompting recent publication of over 100 user-friendly Latinate names for unnamed prokaryotic phyla. Most candidate phyla remain 'known unknowns', with limited knowledge of their genomic diversity, ecological roles, or environments. Whether phyla still reflect significant evolutionary and ecological partitions across prokaryotic life remains an area of active debate. However, phyla remain of practical importance for microbiome analyses, particularly in clinical research. Despite potential diminishing returns in discovery of biodiversity, prokaryotic phyla offer extensive research opportunities for microbiologists for the foreseeable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark J. Pallen
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
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2
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Krukenberg V, Kohtz AJ, Jay ZJ, Hatzenpichler R. Methyl-reducing methanogenesis by a thermophilic culture of Korarchaeia. Nature 2024; 632:1131-1136. [PMID: 39048017 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07829-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Methanogenesis mediated by archaea is the main source of methane, a strong greenhouse gas, and thus is critical for understanding Earth's climate dynamics. Recently, genes encoding diverse methanogenesis pathways have been discovered in metagenome-assembled genomes affiliated with several archaeal phyla1-7. However, all experimental studies on methanogens are at present restricted to cultured representatives of the Euryarchaeota. Here we show methanogenic growth by a member of the lineage Korarchaeia within the phylum Thermoproteota (TACK superphylum)5-7. Following enrichment cultivation of 'Candidatus Methanodesulfokora washburnenis' strain LCB3, we used measurements of metabolic activity and isotope tracer conversion to demonstrate methanol reduction to methane using hydrogen as an electron donor. Analysis of the archaeon's circular genome and transcriptome revealed unique modifications in the energy conservation pathways linked to methanogenesis, including enzyme complexes involved in hydrogen and sulfur metabolism. The cultivation and characterization of this new group of archaea is critical for a deeper evaluation of the diversity, physiology and biochemistry of methanogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viola Krukenberg
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Biofilm Engineering, and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA.
| | - Anthony J Kohtz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Biofilm Engineering, and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Zackary J Jay
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Biofilm Engineering, and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Roland Hatzenpichler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Biofilm Engineering, and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA.
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3
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Padalko A, Nair G, Sousa FL. Fusion/fission protein family identification in Archaea. mSystems 2024; 9:e0094823. [PMID: 38700364 PMCID: PMC11237513 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00948-23] [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: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The majority of newly discovered archaeal lineages remain without a cultivated representative, but scarce experimental data from the cultivated organisms show that they harbor distinct functional repertoires. To unveil the ecological as well as evolutionary impact of Archaea from metagenomics, new computational methods need to be developed, followed by in-depth analysis. Among them is the genome-wide protein fusion screening performed here. Natural fusions and fissions of genes not only contribute to microbial evolution but also complicate the correct identification and functional annotation of sequences. The products of these processes can be defined as fusion (or composite) proteins, the ones consisting of two or more domains originally encoded by different genes and split proteins, and the ones originating from the separation of a gene in two (fission). Fusion identifications are required for proper phylogenetic reconstructions and metabolic pathway completeness assessments, while mappings between fused and unfused proteins can fill some of the existing gaps in metabolic models. In the archaeal genome-wide screening, more than 1,900 fusion/fission protein clusters were identified, belonging to both newly sequenced and well-studied lineages. These protein families are mainly associated with different types of metabolism, genetic, and cellular processes. Moreover, 162 of the identified fusion/fission protein families are archaeal specific, having no identified fused homolog within the bacterial domain. Our approach was validated by the identification of experimentally characterized fusion/fission cases. However, around 25% of the identified fusion/fission families lack functional annotations for both composite and split states, showing the need for experimental characterization in Archaea.IMPORTANCEGenome-wide fusion screening has never been performed in Archaea on a broad taxonomic scale. The overlay of multiple computational techniques allows the detection of a fine-grained set of predicted fusion/fission families, instead of rough estimations based on conserved domain annotations only. The exhaustive mapping of fused proteins to bacterial organisms allows us to capture fusion/fission families that are specific to archaeal biology, as well as to identify links between bacterial and archaeal lineages based on cooccurrence of taxonomically restricted proteins and their sequence features. Furthermore, the identification of poorly characterized lineage-specific fusion proteins opens up possibilities for future experimental and computational investigations. This approach enhances our understanding of Archaea in general and provides potential candidates for in-depth studies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasiia Padalko
- Genome Evolution and Ecology Group, Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna Doctoral School of Ecology and Evolution, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Govind Nair
- Genome Evolution and Ecology Group, Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Filipa L. Sousa
- Genome Evolution and Ecology Group, Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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4
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Nußbaum P, Kureisaite-Ciziene D, Bellini D, van der Does C, Kojic M, Taib N, Yeates A, Tourte M, Gribaldo S, Loose M, Löwe J, Albers SV. Proteins containing photosynthetic reaction centre domains modulate FtsZ-based archaeal cell division. Nat Microbiol 2024; 9:698-711. [PMID: 38443575 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-024-01600-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Cell division in all domains of life requires the orchestration of many proteins, but in Archaea most of the machinery remains poorly characterized. Here we investigate the FtsZ-based cell division mechanism in Haloferax volcanii and find proteins containing photosynthetic reaction centre (PRC) barrel domains that play an essential role in archaeal cell division. We rename these proteins cell division protein B 1 (CdpB1) and CdpB2. Depletions and deletions in their respective genes cause severe cell division defects, generating drastically enlarged cells. Fluorescence microscopy of tagged FtsZ1, FtsZ2 and SepF in CdpB1 and CdpB2 mutant strains revealed an unusually disordered divisome that is not organized into a distinct ring-like structure. Biochemical analysis shows that SepF forms a tripartite complex with CdpB1/2 and crystal structures suggest that these two proteins might form filaments, possibly aligning SepF and the FtsZ2 ring during cell division. Overall our results indicate that PRC-domain proteins play essential roles in FtsZ-based cell division in Archaea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip Nußbaum
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Dom Bellini
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Chris van der Does
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Marko Kojic
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Najwa Taib
- Evolutionary Biology of the Microbial Cell Laboratory, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Anna Yeates
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Maxime Tourte
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Simonetta Gribaldo
- Evolutionary Biology of the Microbial Cell Laboratory, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Martin Loose
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Jan Löwe
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sonja-Verena Albers
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
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5
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Göker M, Oren A. Valid publication of names of two domains and seven kingdoms of prokaryotes. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2024; 74. [PMID: 38252124 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.006242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP) now includes the categories domain and kingdom. For the purpose of the valid publication of their names under the ICNP, we consider here the two known domains, 'Bacteria' and 'Archaea', as well as a number of taxa suitable for the rank of kingdom, based on previous phylogenetic and taxonomic studies. It is proposed to subdivide the domain Bacteria into the kingdoms Bacillati, Fusobacteriati, Pseudomonadati and Thermotogati. This arrangement reflects contemporary phylogenetic hypotheses as well as previous taxonomic proposals based on cell wall structure, including 'diderms' vs. 'monoderms', Gracilicutes vs. Firmicutes, 'Negibacteria' vs. 'Unibacteria', 'Hydrobacteria' vs. 'Terrabacteria', and 'Hydrobacterida' vs. 'Terrabacterida'. The domain Archaea is proposed to include the kingdoms Methanobacteriati, Nanobdellati and Thermoproteati, reflecting the previous division into 'Euryarchaeota', 'DPANN superphylum' and 'TACK superphylum'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Göker
- Leibniz Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Inhoffenstrasse 7B, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Aharon Oren
- The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The Institute of Life Sciences, Edmond J. Safra Campus - Givat Ram, 9190401 Jerusalem, Israel
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Tessmer I, Margison GP. The DNA Alkyltransferase Family of DNA Repair Proteins: Common Mechanisms, Diverse Functions. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:463. [PMID: 38203633 PMCID: PMC10779285 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010463] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
DNA alkyltransferase and alkyltransferase-like family proteins are responsible for the repair of highly mutagenic and cytotoxic O6-alkylguanine and O4-alkylthymine bases in DNA. Their mechanism involves binding to the damaged DNA and flipping the base out of the DNA helix into the active site pocket in the protein. Alkyltransferases then directly and irreversibly transfer the alkyl group from the base to the active site cysteine residue. In contrast, alkyltransferase-like proteins recruit nucleotide excision repair components for O6-alkylguanine elimination. One or more of these proteins are found in all kingdoms of life, and where this has been determined, their overall DNA repair mechanism is strictly conserved between organisms. Nevertheless, between species, subtle as well as more extensive differences that affect target lesion preferences and/or introduce additional protein functions have evolved. Examining these differences and their functional consequences is intricately entwined with understanding the details of their DNA repair mechanism(s) and their biological roles. In this review, we will present and discuss various aspects of the current status of knowledge on this intriguing protein family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Tessmer
- Rudolf Virchow Center, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Geoffrey P. Margison
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK;
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Rafiq M, Hassan N, Rehman M, Hayat M, Nadeem G, Hassan F, Iqbal N, Ali H, Zada S, Kang Y, Sajjad W, Jamal M. Challenges and Approaches of Culturing the Unculturable Archaea. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1499. [PMID: 38132325 PMCID: PMC10740628 DOI: 10.3390/biology12121499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Since Carl Woese's discovery of archaea as a third domain of life, numerous archaeal species have been discovered, yet archaeal diversity is poorly characterized. Culturing archaea is complicated, but several queries about archaeal cell biology, evolution, physiology, and diversity need to be solved by culturing and culture-dependent techniques. Increasing interest in demand for innovative culturing methods has led to various technological and methodological advances. The current review explains frequent hurdles hindering uncultured archaea isolation and discusses features for more archaeal cultivation. This review also discusses successful strategies and available media for archaeal culturing, which might be helpful for future culturing practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Rafiq
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Informatics, Balochistan University of IT, Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta 87100, Pakistan
- FF Institute (Huzhou) Co., Ltd., Huzhou 313000, China
| | - Noor Hassan
- Industrial Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering-College, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Maliha Rehman
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Informatics, Balochistan University of IT, Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta 87100, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Hayat
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Institute of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Jinan 266101, China
| | - Gullasht Nadeem
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Informatics, Balochistan University of IT, Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta 87100, Pakistan
| | - Farwa Hassan
- Industrial Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering-College, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Naveed Iqbal
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Informatics, Balochistan University of IT, Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta 87100, Pakistan
- The Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi 74800, Pakistan
| | - Hazrat Ali
- Industrial Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering-College, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Sahib Zada
- Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Yingqian Kang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education of Guizhou, Guiyang 550025, China
- Key Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Wasim Sajjad
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi 46000, Pakistan
| | - Muhsin Jamal
- Department of Microbiology, Abdul Wali Khan University, Garden Campus, Mardan 23200, Pakistan
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8
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Vulcano F, Hribovšek P, Denny EO, Steen IH, Stokke R. Potential for homoacetogenesis via the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway in Korarchaeia lineages from marine hydrothermal vents. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2023; 15:698-707. [PMID: 37218095 PMCID: PMC10667645 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.13168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The Wood-Ljungdahl pathway (WLP) is a key metabolic component of acetogenic bacteria where it acts as an electron sink. In Archaea, despite traditionally being linked to methanogenesis, the pathway has been found in several Thermoproteota and Asgardarchaeota lineages. In Bathyarchaeia and Lokiarchaeia, its presence has been linked to a homoacetogenic metabolism. Genomic evidence from marine hydrothermal genomes suggests that lineages of Korarchaeia could also encode the WLP. In this study, we reconstructed 50 Korarchaeia genomes from marine hydrothermal vents along the Arctic Mid-Ocean Ridge, substantially expanding the Korarchaeia class with several taxonomically novel genomes. We identified a complete WLP in several deep-branching lineages, showing that the presence of the WLP is conserved at the root of the Korarchaeia. No methyl-CoM reductases were encoded by genomes with the WLP, indicating that the WLP is not linked to methanogenesis. By assessing the distribution of hydrogenases and membrane complexes for energy conservation, we show that the WLP is likely used as an electron sink in a fermentative homoacetogenic metabolism. Our study confirms previous hypotheses that the WLP has evolved independently from the methanogenic metabolism in Archaea, perhaps due to its propensity to be combined with heterotrophic fermentative metabolisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Vulcano
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Deep Sea ResearchUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
| | - Petra Hribovšek
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Deep Sea ResearchUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
- Department of Earth Science, Centre for Deep Sea ResearchUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
| | - Emily Olesin Denny
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Deep Sea ResearchUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
- Department of Informatics, Computational Biological UnitUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
| | - Ida H. Steen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Deep Sea ResearchUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
| | - Runar Stokke
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Deep Sea ResearchUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
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Pan J, Zhang X, Xu W, Liu Y, Liu L, Luo Z, Li M. Wood-Ljungdahl pathway found in novel marine Korarchaeota groups illuminates their evolutionary history. mSystems 2023; 8:e0030523. [PMID: 37458475 PMCID: PMC10469681 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00305-23] [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: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Korarchaeota, due to its rarity in common environments, is one of the archaeal phyla that has received the least attention from researchers. It was previously thought to consist solely of strict thermophiles. However, our study provides genetic evidence for the presence of korarchaeal members in temperate subsurface seawater. Furthermore, a systematic reclassification of the Korarchaeota based on 16S rRNA genes and genomes has revealed three novel marine groups (Kor-6 to Kor-8) at the root of the Korarchaeota branch. Kor-6 contains microbes that are present in moderate temperatures. All three novel marine phyla possess genes for the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway, and Kor-7 and Kor-8 possess fewer genes encoding oxygen resistance traits than other korarchaeal groups, suggesting a distinct lifestyle for these novel phyla. Our results, together with estimations of Korarchaeota divergence times, suggest that oxygen availability may be one of the important factors that have influenced the evolution of Korarchaeota. IMPORTANCE Korarchaeota were previously thought to inhabit exclusively high-temperature environments. However, our study provides genetic evidence for their unexpected presence in temperate marine waters. Through analysis of publicly available korarchaeal reference data, we have systematically reclassified Korarchaeota and identified the existence of three previously unknown marine groups (Kor-6, Kor-7, and Kor-8) at the root of the Korarchaeota branch. Comparative analysis of their gene content revealed that these novel groups exhibit a lifestyle distinct from other Korarchaeota. Specifically, they have the ability to fix carbon exclusively via the Wood-Ljungdahl (WL) pathway, and the genomes within Kor-7 and Kor-8 contain few genes encoding antioxidant enzymes, indicating their strictly anaerobic lifestyle. Further studies suggest that the genes related to methane metabolism and the WL pathway may have been inherited from a common ancestor of the Korarchaeota and that oxygen availability may be one of the important evolutionary factors that shaped the diversification of this archaeal phylum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Pan
- Archaeal Biology Center, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Xbiome Biotech Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Xinxu Zhang
- Archaeal Biology Center, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Biogenetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Archaeal Biology Center, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Lirui Liu
- Archaeal Biology Center, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhuhua Luo
- Key Laboratory of Marine Biogenetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Meng Li
- Archaeal Biology Center, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
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10
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Lynes MM, Krukenberg V, Jay ZJ, Kohtz AJ, Gobrogge CA, Spietz RL, Hatzenpichler R. Diversity and function of methyl-coenzyme M reductase-encoding archaea in Yellowstone hot springs revealed by metagenomics and mesocosm experiments. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 3:22. [PMID: 36949220 PMCID: PMC10033731 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-023-00225-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Metagenomic studies on geothermal environments have been central in recent discoveries on the diversity of archaeal methane and alkane metabolism. Here, we investigated methanogenic populations inhabiting terrestrial geothermal features in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) by combining amplicon sequencing with metagenomics and mesocosm experiments. Detection of methyl-coenzyme M reductase subunit A (mcrA) gene amplicons demonstrated a wide diversity of Mcr-encoding archaea inhabit geothermal features with differing physicochemical regimes across YNP. From three selected hot springs we recovered twelve Mcr-encoding metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs) affiliated with lineages of cultured methanogens as well as Candidatus (Ca.) Methanomethylicia, Ca. Hadesarchaeia, and Archaeoglobi. These MAGs encoded the potential for hydrogenotrophic, aceticlastic, hydrogen-dependent methylotrophic methanogenesis, or anaerobic short-chain alkane oxidation. While Mcr-encoding archaea represent minor fractions of the microbial community of hot springs, mesocosm experiments with methanogenic precursors resulted in the stimulation of methanogenic activity and the enrichment of lineages affiliated with Methanosaeta and Methanothermobacter as well as with uncultured Mcr-encoding archaea including Ca. Korarchaeia, Ca. Nezhaarchaeia, and Archaeoglobi. We revealed that diverse Mcr-encoding archaea with the metabolic potential to produce methane from different precursors persist in the geothermal environments of YNP and can be enriched under methanogenic conditions. This study highlights the importance of combining environmental metagenomics with laboratory-based experiments to expand our understanding of uncultured Mcr-encoding archaea and their potential impact on microbial carbon transformations in geothermal environments and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mackenzie M Lynes
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Biofilm Engineering, and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Viola Krukenberg
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Biofilm Engineering, and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA.
| | - Zackary J Jay
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Biofilm Engineering, and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Anthony J Kohtz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Biofilm Engineering, and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | | | - Rachel L Spietz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Biofilm Engineering, and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Roland Hatzenpichler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Biofilm Engineering, and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA.
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11
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Qu YN, Rao YZ, Qi YL, Li YX, Li A, Palmer M, Hedlund BP, Shu WS, Evans PN, Nie GX, Hua ZS, Li WJ. Panguiarchaeum symbiosum, a potential hyperthermophilic symbiont in the TACK superphylum. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112158. [PMID: 36827180 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The biology of Korarchaeia remains elusive due to the lack of genome representatives. Here, we reconstruct 10 closely related metagenome-assembled genomes from hot spring habitats and place them into a single species, proposed herein as Panguiarchaeum symbiosum. Functional investigation suggests that Panguiarchaeum symbiosum is strictly anaerobic and grows exclusively in thermal habitats by fermenting peptides coupled with sulfide and hydrogen production to dispose of electrons. Due to its inability to biosynthesize archaeal membranes, amino acids, and purines, this species likely exists in a symbiotic lifestyle similar to DPANN archaea. Population metagenomics and metatranscriptomic analyses demonstrated that genes associated with amino acid/peptide uptake and cell attachment exhibited positive selection and were highly expressed, supporting the proposed proteolytic catabolism and symbiotic lifestyle. Our study sheds light on the metabolism, evolution, and potential symbiotic lifestyle of Panguiarchaeum symbiosum, which may be a unique host-dependent archaeon within the TACK superphylum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Ni Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Yang-Zhi Rao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Yan-Ling Qi
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yu-Xian Li
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Andrew Li
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Marike Palmer
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA
| | - Brian P Hedlund
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA; Nevada Institute of Personalized Medicine, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA
| | - Wen-Sheng Shu
- School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, PR China
| | - Paul N Evans
- The Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Guo-Xing Nie
- College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Zheng-Shuang Hua
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
| | - Wen-Jun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, PR China.
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12
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Zhou Z, Liu Y, Anantharaman K, Li M. The expanding Asgard archaea invoke novel insights into Tree of Life and eukaryogenesis. MLIFE 2022; 1:374-381. [PMID: 38818484 PMCID: PMC10989744 DOI: 10.1002/mlf2.12048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The division of organisms on the Tree of Life into either a three-domain (3D) tree or a two-domain (2D) tree has been disputed for a long time. Ever since the discovery of Archaea by Carl Woese in 1977 using 16S ribosomal RNA sequence as the evolutionary marker, there has been a great advance in our knowledge of not only the growing diversity of Archaea but also the evolutionary relationships between different lineages of living organisms. Here, we present this perspective to summarize the progress of archaeal diversity and changing notion of the Tree of Life. Meanwhile, we provide the latest progress in genomics/physiology-based discovery of Asgard archaeal lineages as the closest relative of Eukaryotes. Furthermore, we propose three major directions for future research on exploring the "next one" closest Eukaryote relative, deciphering the function of archaeal eukaryotic signature proteins and eukaryogenesis from both genomic and physiological aspects, and understanding the roles of horizontal gene transfer, viruses, and mobile elements in eukaryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhichao Zhou
- Department of BacteriologyUniversity of Wisconsin–MadisonMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Yang Liu
- Archaeal Biology Center, Institute for Advanced StudyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenChina
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced StudyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenChina
| | | | - Meng Li
- Archaeal Biology Center, Institute for Advanced StudyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenChina
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced StudyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenChina
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13
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Malik PK, Trivedi S, Kolte AP, Mohapatra A, Bhatta R, Rahman H. Effect of an anti-methanogenic supplement on enteric methane emission, fermentation, and whole rumen metagenome in sheep. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1048288. [PMID: 36478863 PMCID: PMC9719938 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1048288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A study was conducted to investigate the impact of an anti-methanogenic product supplementation on enteric methane emissions, whole rumen metagenome and ruminal fermentation in sheep. Twelve adult male sheep were randomly divided into two groups of six animals each. Animals were fed ad libitum on a total mixed ration either without (CON) or with an anti-methanogenic supplement (Harit Dhara-HD). The anti-methanogenic supplement contained 22.1% tannic acid in a 3: 1 ratio of condensed and hydrolysable tannins. The supplementation of product revealed a significant reduction in daily enteric methane emission (21.9 vs. 17.2 g/d) and methane yield (23.2 vs. 18.2) without affecting the nutrient intake and digestibility. However, the propionate concentration in the HD treatment group was significantly higher than in the CON group. On the contrary, the ammonia nitrogen concentration was lower. The anti-methanogenic supplement significantly decreased the ruminal protozoa in the HD treatment group. Whole rumen metagenome analysis revealed that the core bacterial (Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes) and archaeal communities (Methanobrevibacter and Methanosarcina) were comparable between the CON and HD treatment groups. However, the supplementation of anti-methanogenic product led to a considerable reduction in the abundance of Proteobacteria, whereas the abundance of Lentisphaerae was greater. The supplementation significantly decreased the abundance of Methanocaldococcus, Methanococcoides, Methanocella, and Methanoregula methanogens. A total of 36 KO related to methanogenesis were identified in this study. The activities of formate dehydrogenase (EC 1.8.98.6) and tetrahydromethanopterin S-methyltransferase (EC 2.1.1.86) were significantly lowered by the anti-methanogenic product supplementation in sheep. In conclusion, the anti-methanogenic supplement has the potential to decrease enteric methane emission (~22%) at the recommended level (5% of DM) of supplementation. The contribution of minor methanogens vulnerable to supplementation to rumen methanogenesis is not known; hence, the culturing of these archaea should be taken on priority for determining the impact on overall rumen methanogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pradeep Kumar Malik
- ICAR-National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Bangalore, India
| | | | - Atul Purushottam Kolte
- ICAR-National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Bangalore, India,*Correspondence: Atul Purushottam Kolte,
| | - Archit Mohapatra
- ICAR-National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Bangalore, India
| | - Raghavendra Bhatta
- ICAR-National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Bangalore, India
| | - Habibar Rahman
- International Livestock Research Institute, New Delhi, India
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14
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van Wolferen M, Pulschen AA, Baum B, Gribaldo S, Albers SV. The cell biology of archaea. Nat Microbiol 2022; 7:1744-1755. [PMID: 36253512 PMCID: PMC7613921 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-022-01215-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The past decade has revealed the diversity and ubiquity of archaea in nature, with a growing number of studies highlighting their importance in ecology, biotechnology and even human health. Myriad lineages have been discovered, which expanded the phylogenetic breadth of archaea and revealed their central role in the evolutionary origins of eukaryotes. These discoveries, coupled with advances that enable the culturing and live imaging of archaeal cells under extreme environments, have underpinned a better understanding of their biology. In this Review we focus on the shape, internal organization and surface structures that are characteristic of archaeal cells as well as membrane remodelling, cell growth and division. We also highlight some of the technical challenges faced and discuss how new and improved technologies will help address many of the key unanswered questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marleen van Wolferen
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, Institute of Biology II, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Buzz Baum
- Division of Cell Biology, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Simonetta Gribaldo
- Evolutionary Biology of the Microbial Cell Unit, CNRS UMR2001, Department of Microbiology, Institute Pasteur, Paris, France.
| | - Sonja-Verena Albers
- Molecular Biology of Archaea, Institute of Biology II, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
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15
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Prudence Dlamini S, Olalekan Akanmu A, Emmanuel Fadiji A, Oluranti Babalola O. Maize rhizosphere modulates the microbiome diversity and community structure to enhance plant health. Saudi J Biol Sci 2022; 30:103499. [DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2022.103499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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16
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Liu Y, Li M. The unstable evolutionary position of Korarchaeota and its relationship with other TACK and Asgard archaea. MLIFE 2022; 1:218-222. [PMID: 38817676 PMCID: PMC10989867 DOI: 10.1002/mlf2.12020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The applications of marker gene concatenation have been advanced to resolve the key questions in the Tree of Life. However, the interphylum evolutionary relationship between Korarchaeota of TACK (Thaumarchaeota, Aigarchaeota, Crenarchaeota, Korarchaeota) and Asgard archaea remains uncertain. We applied a marker gene ranking procedure to examine their evolutionary history. Our updated trees showed confident placements of (1) Korarchaeota as the basal branch to other TACK archaea and as a sister group to Asgard archaea; (2) Njordarchaeota at basal branch to Korarchaeota instead of within Asgard archaea. They highlight the importance of evaluating marker genes for phylogeny inference of the Archaea domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- Archaeal Biology Center, Institute for Advanced StudyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenChina
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced StudyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenChina
| | - Meng Li
- Archaeal Biology Center, Institute for Advanced StudyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenChina
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced StudyShenzhen UniversityShenzhenChina
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17
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Shu WS, Huang LN. Microbial diversity in extreme environments. Nat Rev Microbiol 2022; 20:219-235. [PMID: 34754082 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-021-00648-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 71.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
A wide array of microorganisms, including many novel, phylogenetically deeply rooted taxa, survive and thrive in extreme environments. These unique and reduced-complexity ecosystems offer a tremendous opportunity for studying the structure, function and evolution of natural microbial communities. Marker gene surveys have resolved patterns and ecological drivers of these extremophile assemblages, revealing a vast uncultured microbial diversity and the often predominance of archaea in the most extreme conditions. New omics studies have uncovered linkages between community function and environmental variables, and have enabled discovery and genomic characterization of major new lineages that substantially expand microbial diversity and change the structure of the tree of life. These efforts have significantly advanced our understanding of the diversity, ecology and evolution of microorganisms populating Earth's extreme environments, and have facilitated the exploration of microbiota and processes in more complex ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Sheng Shu
- School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
| | - Li-Nan Huang
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
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18
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Hedlund BP, Zhang C, Wang F, Rinke C, Martin WF. Editorial: Ecology, Metabolism and Evolution of Archaea-Perspectives From Proceedings of the International Workshop on Geo-Omics of Archaea. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:827229. [PMID: 35126338 PMCID: PMC8816317 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.827229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Brian P. Hedlund
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, United States
- Nevada Institute of Personalized Medicine, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, United States
| | - Chuanlun Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Archaea Geo-Omics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China
| | - Fengping Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- School of Oceanography, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Christian Rinke
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - William F. Martin
- Institute for Molecular Evolution, University of Dusseldorf Medical School, Düsseldorf, Germany
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19
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Characterizing the Uncultivated Microbial Minority: towards Understanding the Roles of the Rare Biosphere in Microbial Communities. mSystems 2021; 6:e0077321. [PMID: 34427533 PMCID: PMC8407377 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00773-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial communities are frequently numerically dominated by just a few species. Often, the long “tail” of the rank-abundance plots of microbial communities constitutes the so-called “rare biosphere,” microorganisms that are highly diverse but are typically found in low abundance in these communities. Their presence in microbial communities has only recently become apparent with advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies. Despite their low numbers, they are thought to play important roles in their communities and may function as potential members to keep the communities intact and resilient. Their phylogenetic diversity also means that they are important subjects for better understanding the interplay between microbial diversity and evolution. I propose that more efforts should be put into characterizing these poorly understood and mostly unknown microbial lineages that hold vast potentials for our understanding of microbial diversity, ecology, and evolution of life on this planet.
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20
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Tahon G, Patricia Geesink, Ettema TJG. Expanding Archaeal Diversity and Phylogeny: Past, Present, and Future. Annu Rev Microbiol 2021; 75:359-381. [PMID: 34351791 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-040921-050212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of the Archaea is a major scientific hallmark of the twentieth century. Since then, important features of their cell biology, physiology, ecology, and diversity have been revealed. Over the course of some 40 years, the diversity of known archaea has expanded from 2 to about 30 phyla comprising over 20,000 species. Most of this archaeal diversity has been revealed by environmental 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing surveys using a broad range of universal and targeted primers. Of the few primers that target a large fraction of known archaeal diversity, all display a bias against recently discovered lineages, which limits studies aiming to survey overall archaeal diversity. Induced by genomic exploration of archaeal diversity, and improved phylogenomics approaches, archaeal taxonomic classification has been frequently revised. Due to computational limitations and continued discovery of new lineages, a stable archaeal phylogeny is not yet within reach. Obtaining phylogenetic and taxonomic consensus of archaea should be a high priority for the archaeal research community. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Microbiology, Volume 75 is October 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Tahon
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, 6700 EH Wageningen, The Netherlands; , ,
| | - Patricia Geesink
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, 6700 EH Wageningen, The Netherlands; , ,
| | - Thijs J G Ettema
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, 6700 EH Wageningen, The Netherlands; , ,
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21
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A standardized archaeal taxonomy for the Genome Taxonomy Database. Nat Microbiol 2021; 6:946-959. [PMID: 34155373 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-021-00918-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 55.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The accrual of genomic data from both cultured and uncultured microorganisms provides new opportunities to develop systematic taxonomies based on evolutionary relationships. Previously, we established a bacterial taxonomy through the Genome Taxonomy Database. Here, we propose a standardized archaeal taxonomy that is derived from a 122-concatenated-protein phylogeny that resolves polyphyletic groups and normalizes ranks based on relative evolutionary divergence. The resulting archaeal taxonomy, which forms part of the Genome Taxonomy Database, is stable for a range of phylogenetic variables including marker gene selection, inference methods, corrections for rate heterogeneity and compositional bias, tree rooting scenarios and expansion of the genome database. Rank normalization is shown to robustly correct for substitution rates varying up to 30-fold using simulated datasets. Taxonomic curation follows the rules of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes while taking into account proposals to formally recognize the rank of phylum and to use genome sequences as type material. This taxonomy is based on 2,392 archaeal genomes, 93.3% of which required one or more changes to their existing taxonomy, mainly owing to incomplete classification. We identify 16 archaeal phyla and reclassify 3 major monophyletic units from the former Euryarchaeota and one phylum that unites the Thaumarchaeota-Aigarchaeota-Crenarchaeota-Korarchaeota (TACK) superphylum into a single phylum.
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22
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Prokaryotic and eukaryotic diversity in hydrothermal continental systems. Arch Microbiol 2021; 203:3751-3766. [PMID: 34143270 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-021-02416-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The term extremophile was suggested more than 30 years ago and represents microorganisms that are capable of developing and living under extreme conditions, these conditions being particularly hostile to other types of microorganisms and to humankind. In terrestrial hydrothermal sites, like hot springs, "mud pools", solfataras, and geysers, the dominant extreme conditions are high temperature, low or high pH, and high levels of salinity. The diversity of microorganisms inhabiting these sites is determined by the conditions of the environment. Organisms belonging to the domains Archaea and Bacteria are more represented than the one belonging to Eukarya. Eukarya members tend to be less present because of their lower tolerance to higher temperatures, however, they perform important ecosystem processes when present. Both prokaryotes and eukaryotes have morphological and physical adaptations that allow them to colonize extreme environments. Microbial mats are complex associations of microorganisms that help the colonization of more extreme systems. In this review, a characterization of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms that populate terrestrial hydrothermal systems are made.
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23
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Archaea: An Agro-Ecological Perspective. Curr Microbiol 2021; 78:2510-2521. [PMID: 34019119 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-021-02537-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Microorganisms inhabiting bulk soil and rhizosphere play an important role in soil biogeochemical cycles leading to enhanced plant growth and productivity. In this context, the role of bacteria is well established, however, not much reports are available about the role archaea plays in this regard. Literature suggests that archaea also play a greater role in nutrient cycling of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and other minerals, possess various plant growth promoting attributes, and can impart tolerance to various abiotic stresses (especially osmotic and oxidative) in areas of high salinity, low and high temperatures and hydrogen ion concentrations. Thermoacidophilic archaea have been found to potentially involve in bioleaching of mineral ores and bioremediation of chemical pollutants and aromatic compounds. Looking at immense potential of archaea in promoting plant growth, alleviating abiotic stresses, and remediating contaminated sites, detailed studies are required to establish their role in different ecological processes, and their interactions in rhizosphere with plant and other microflora (bacteria and fungi) in different ecosystems. In this review, a brief discussion on archaea from the agro-ecological point of view is presented.
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24
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L Neal A, McLaren T, Lourenço Campolino M, Hughes D, Marcos Coelho A, Gomes de Paula Lana U, Aparecida Gomes E, Morais de Sousa S. Crop type exerts greater influence upon rhizosphere phosphohydrolase gene abundance and phylogenetic diversity than phosphorus fertilization. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2021; 97:6145522. [PMID: 33609137 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiab033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Rock phosphate is an alternative form of phosphorus (P) fertilizer; however, there is no information regarding the influence of P fertilizer sources in Brazilian Cerrado soils upon microbial genes coding for phosphohydrolase enzymes in crop rhizospheres. Here, we analyze a field experiment comparing maize and sorghum grown under different P fertilization (rock phosphate and triple superphosphate) upon crop performance, phosphatase activity and rhizosphere microbiomes at three levels of diversity: small subunit rRNA marker genes of bacteria, archaea and fungi; a suite of alkaline and acid phosphatase and phytase genes; and ecotypes of individual genes. We found no significant difference in crop performance between the fertilizer sources, but the accumulation of fertilizer P into pools of organic soil P differed. Phosphatase activity was the only biological parameter influenced by P fertilization. Differences in rhizosphere microbiomes were observed at all levels of biodiversity due to crop type, but not fertilization. Inspection of phosphohydrolase gene ecotypes responsible for differences between the crops suggests a role for lateral genetic transfer in establishing ecotype distributions. Moreover, they were not reflected in microbial community composition, suggesting that they confer competitive advantage to individual cells rather than species in the sorghum rhizosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew L Neal
- Department of Sustainable Agricultural Sciences, Rothamsted Research, North Wyke, Devon EX20 2SB, UK
| | - Timothy McLaren
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zürich, Eschikon 33, 8315 Lindau, Switzerland
| | - Mariana Lourenço Campolino
- Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei, Bioengineering, R. Padre João Pimentel, 80 - Dom Bosco, São João del-Rei, Minas Gerais, 36301-158, Brazil.,Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Embrapa Milho e Sorgo, Rod MG 424 Km 65, Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais, 35701-970, Brazil
| | - David Hughes
- Department of Computational and Analytical Sciences, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2JQ, UK
| | - Antônio Marcos Coelho
- Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Embrapa Milho e Sorgo, Rod MG 424 Km 65, Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais, 35701-970, Brazil
| | - Ubiraci Gomes de Paula Lana
- Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Embrapa Milho e Sorgo, Rod MG 424 Km 65, Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais, 35701-970, Brazil
| | - Eliane Aparecida Gomes
- Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Embrapa Milho e Sorgo, Rod MG 424 Km 65, Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais, 35701-970, Brazil
| | - Sylvia Morais de Sousa
- Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei, Bioengineering, R. Padre João Pimentel, 80 - Dom Bosco, São João del-Rei, Minas Gerais, 36301-158, Brazil.,Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Embrapa Milho e Sorgo, Rod MG 424 Km 65, Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais, 35701-970, Brazil
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25
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Abstract
Microbes in marine sediments represent a large portion of the biosphere, and resolving their ecology is crucial for understanding global ocean processes. Single-gene diversity surveys have revealed several uncultured lineages that are widespread in ocean sediments and whose ecological roles are unknown, and advancements in the computational analysis of increasingly large genomic data sets have made it possible to reconstruct individual genomes from complex microbial communities. Using these metagenomic approaches to characterize sediments is transforming our view of microbial communities on the ocean floor and the biodiversity of the planet. In recent years, marine sediments have been a prominent source of new lineages in the tree of life. The incorporation of these lineages into existing phylogenies has revealed that many belong to distinct phyla, including archaeal phyla that are advancing our understanding of the origins of cellular complexity and eukaryotes. Detailed comparisons of the metabolic potentials of these new lineages have made it clear that uncultured bacteria and archaea are capable of mediating key previously undescribed steps in carbon and nutrient cycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett J Baker
- Department of Marine Science and Marine Science Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, Texas 78373, USA;
| | - Kathryn E Appler
- Department of Marine Science and Marine Science Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, Texas 78373, USA;
| | - Xianzhe Gong
- Department of Marine Science and Marine Science Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Port Aransas, Texas 78373, USA;
- Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China;
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26
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Zou D, Liu H, Li M. Community, Distribution, and Ecological Roles of Estuarine Archaea. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:2060. [PMID: 32983044 PMCID: PMC7484942 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.02060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Archaea are diverse and ubiquitous prokaryotes present in both extreme and moderate environments. Estuaries, serving as links between the land and ocean, harbor numerous microbes that are relatively highly active because of massive terrigenous input of nutrients. Archaea account for a considerable portion of the estuarine microbial community. They are diverse and play key roles in the estuarine biogeochemical cycles. Ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) are an abundant aquatic archaeal group in estuaries, greatly contributing estuarine ammonia oxidation. Bathyarchaeota are abundant in sediments, and they may involve in sedimentary organic matter degradation, acetogenesis, and, potentially, methane metabolism, based on genomics. Other archaeal groups are also commonly detected in estuaries worldwide. They include Euryarchaeota, and members of the DPANN and Asgard archaea. Based on biodiversity surveys of the 16S rRNA gene and some functional genes, the distribution and abundance of estuarine archaea are driven by physicochemical factors, such as salinity and oxygen concentration. Currently, increasing amount of genomic information for estuarine archaea is becoming available because of the advances in sequencing technologies, especially for AOA and Bathyarchaeota, leading to a better understanding of their functions and environmental adaptations. Here, we summarized the current knowledge on the community composition and major archaeal groups in estuaries, focusing on AOA and Bathyarchaeota. We also highlighted the unique genomic features and potential adaptation strategies of estuarine archaea, pointing out major unknowns in the field and scope for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayu Zou
- SZU-HKUST Joint Ph.D. Program in Marine Environmental Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Ocean Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hongbin Liu
- Department of Ocean Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
- Hong Kong Branch of Southern Marine Science & Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Meng Li
- SZU-HKUST Joint Ph.D. Program in Marine Environmental Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
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27
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Oren A, Garrity GM, Parker CT, Chuvochina M, Trujillo ME. Lists of names of prokaryotic Candidatus taxa. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2020; 70:3956-4042. [DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.003789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 782] [Impact Index Per Article: 195.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
We here present annotated lists of names of Candidatus taxa of prokaryotes with ranks between subspecies and class, proposed between the mid-1990s, when the provisional status of Candidatus taxa was first established, and the end of 2018. Where necessary, corrected names are proposed that comply with the current provisions of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes and its Orthography appendix. These lists, as well as updated lists of newly published names of Candidatus taxa with additions and corrections to the current lists to be published periodically in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, may serve as the basis for the valid publication of the Candidatus names if and when the current proposals to expand the type material for naming of prokaryotes to also include gene sequences of yet-uncultivated taxa is accepted by the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aharon Oren
- The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, 9190401 Jerusalem, Israel
| | - George M. Garrity
- NamesforLife, LLC, PO Box 769, Okemos MI 48805-0769, USA
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Biomedical Physical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-4320, USA
| | | | - Maria Chuvochina
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, University of Queensland, St. Lucia QLD 4072, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Martha E. Trujillo
- Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
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A Rapid, Sensitive, Low-Cost Assay for Detecting Hydrogenotrophic Methanogens in Anaerobic Digesters Using Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8050740. [PMID: 32429197 PMCID: PMC7284894 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8050740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how the presence, absence, and abundance of different microbial genera supply specific metabolic functions for anaerobic digestion (AD) and how these impact on gas production is critical for a long-term understanding and optimization of the AD process. The strictly anaerobic methanogenic archaea are essential for methane production within AD microbial communities. Methanogens are a phylogenetically diverse group that can be classified into three metabolically distinct lineages based on the substrates they use to produce methane. While process optimization based on physicochemical parameters is well established in AD, measurements that could allow manipulation of the underlying microbial community are seldom used as they tend to be non-specific, expensive, or time-consuming, or a combination of all three. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays combine a simple, rapid, low-cost detection technique with high sensitivity and specificity. Here, we describe the optimization of LAMP assays for the detection of four different genera of hydrogenotrophic methanogens: Methanoculleus, Methanothermobacter, Methanococcus, and Methanobrevibacter spp. By targeting archaeal elongation factor 2 (aEF2), these LAMP assays provide a rapid, low-cost, presence/absence indication of hydrogenotrophic methanogens that could be used as a real-time measure of process conditions. The assays were shown to be sensitive to 1 pg of DNA from most tested methanogen species, providing a route to a quantitative measure through simple serial dilution of samples. The LAMP assays described here offer a simple, fast, and affordable method for the specific detection of four different genera of hydrogenotrophic methanogens. Our results indicate that this approach could be developed into a quantitative measure that could provide rapid, low-cost insight into the functioning and optimization of AD and related systems.
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29
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Diversity, ecology and evolution of Archaea. Nat Microbiol 2020; 5:887-900. [PMID: 32367054 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-020-0715-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 210] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Compared to bacteria, our knowledge of archaeal biology is limited. Historically, microbiologists have mostly relied on culturing and single-gene diversity surveys to understand Archaea in nature. However, only six of the 27 currently proposed archaeal phyla have cultured representatives. Advances in genomic sequencing and computational approaches are revolutionizing our understanding of Archaea. The recovery of genomes belonging to uncultured groups from the environment has resulted in the description of several new phyla, many of which are globally distributed and are among the predominant organisms on the planet. In this Review, we discuss how these genomes, together with long-term enrichment studies and elegant in situ measurements, are providing insights into the metabolic capabilities of the Archaea. We also debate how such studies reveal how important Archaea are in mediating an array of ecological processes, including global carbon and nutrient cycles, and how this increase in archaeal diversity has expanded our view of the tree of life and early archaeal evolution, and has provided new insights into the origin of eukaryotes.
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30
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Sun Y, Liu Y, Pan J, Wang F, Li M. Perspectives on Cultivation Strategies of Archaea. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2020; 79:770-784. [PMID: 31432245 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-019-01422-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Archaea have been recognized as a major domain of life since the 1970s and occupy a key position in the tree of life. Recent advances in culture-independent approaches have greatly accelerated the research son Archaea. However, many hypotheses concerning the diversity, physiology, and evolution of archaea are waiting to be confirmed by culture-base experiments. Consequently, archaeal isolates are in great demand. On the other hand, traditional approaches of archaeal cultivation are rarely successful and require urgent improvement. Here, we review the current practices and applicable microbial cultivation techniques, to inform on potential strategies that could improve archaeal cultivation in the future. We first summarize the current knowledge on archaeal diversity, with an emphasis on cultivated and uncultivated lineages pertinent to future research. Possible causes for the low success rate of the current cultivation practices are then discussed to propose future improvements. Finally, innovative insights for archaeal cultivation are described, including (1) medium refinement for selective cultivation based on the genetic and transcriptional information; (2) consideration of the up-to-date archaeal culturing skills; and (3) application of multiple cultivation techniques, such as co-culture, direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET), single-cell isolation, high-throughput culturing (HTC), and simulation of the natural habitat. Improved cultivation efforts should allow successful isolation of as yet uncultured archaea, contributing to the much-needed physiological investigation of archaea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihua Sun
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Liu
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Pan
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Fengping Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Meng Li
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
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31
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Orsi WD, Schink B, Buckel W, Martin WF. Physiological limits to life in anoxic subseafloor sediment. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2020; 44:219-231. [PMID: 32065239 PMCID: PMC7269680 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuaa004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In subseafloor sediment, microbial cell densities exponentially decrease with depth into the fermentation zone. Here, we address the classical question of 'why are cells dying faster than they are growing?' from the standpoint of physiology. The stoichiometries of fermentative ATP production and consumption in the fermentation zone place bounds on the conversion of old cell biomass into new. Most fermentable organic matter in deep subseafloor sediment is amino acids from dead cells because cells are mostly protein by weight. Conversion of carbon from fermented dead cell protein into methanogen protein via hydrogenotrophic and acetoclastic methanogenesis occurs at ratios of ∼200:1 and 100:1, respectively, while fermenters can reach conversion ratios approaching 6:1. Amino acid fermentations become thermodynamically more efficient at lower substrate and product concentrations, but the conversion of carbon from dead cell protein into fermenter protein is low because of the high energetic cost of translation. Low carbon conversion factors within subseafloor anaerobic feeding chains account for exponential declines in cellular biomass in the fermentation zone of anoxic sediments. Our analysis points to the existence of a life-death transition zone in which the last biologically catalyzed life processes are replaced with purely chemical reactions no longer coupled to life.
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Affiliation(s)
- William D Orsi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Paleontology and Geobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80333 Munich, Germany
- GeoBio-Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80333 Munich, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schink
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, 78457 Constance, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Buckel
- Department of Biology, Philipps-Universität, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - William F Martin
- Institute for Molecular Evolution, Heinrich Heine Universität Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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32
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Phylogenetic Diversity of Archaea in Shallow Hydrothermal Vents of Eolian Islands, Italy. DIVERSITY 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/d11090156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Shallow hydrothermal systems (SHS) around the Eolian Islands (Italy), related to both active and extinct volcanism, are characterized by high temperatures, high concentrations of CO2 and H2S, and low pH, prohibitive for the majority of eukaryotes which are less tolerant to the extreme conditions than prokaryotes. Archaea and bacteria are the key elements for the functioning of these ecosystems, as they are involved in the transformation of inorganic compounds released from the vent emissions and are at the basis of the hydrothermal system food web. New extremophilic archaea (thermophilic, hyperthermophilic, acidophilic, alkalophilic, etc.) have been isolated from vents of Vulcano Island, exhibiting interesting features potentially valuable in biotechnology. Metagenomic analyses, which mainly involved molecular studies of the 16S rRNA gene, provided different insights into microbial composition associated with Eolian SHS. Archaeal community composition at Eolian vent sites results greatly affected by the geochemistry of the studied vents, principally by hypersaline conditions and declining temperatures. Archaeal community in sediments was mostly composed by hyperthermophilic members of Crenarchaeota (class Thermoprotei) and Euryarchaeota (Thermococci and Methanococci) at the highest temperature condition. Mesophilic Euryarchaeota (Halobacteria, Methanomicrobia, and Methanobacteria) increased with decreasing temperatures. Eolian SHS harbor a high diversity of largely unknown archaea, and the studied vents may be an important source of new isolates potentially useful for biotechnological purposes.
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33
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34
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McKay LJ, Dlakić M, Fields MW, Delmont TO, Eren AM, Jay ZJ, Klingelsmith KB, Rusch DB, Inskeep WP. Co-occurring genomic capacity for anaerobic methane and dissimilatory sulfur metabolisms discovered in the Korarchaeota. Nat Microbiol 2019; 4:614-622. [PMID: 30833730 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-019-0362-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Phylogenetic and geological evidence supports the hypothesis that life on Earth originated in thermal environments and conserved energy through methanogenesis or sulfur reduction. Here we describe two populations of the deeply rooted archaeal phylum Korarchaeota, which were retrieved from the metagenome of a circumneutral, suboxic hot spring that contains high levels of sulfate, sulfide, methane, hydrogen and carbon dioxide. One population is closely related to 'Candidatus Korarchaeum cryptofilum OPF8', while the more abundant korarchaeote, 'Candidatus Methanodesulfokores washburnensis', contains genes that are necessary for anaerobic methane and dissimilatory sulfur metabolisms. Phylogenetic and ancestral reconstruction analyses suggest that methane metabolism originated in the Korarchaeota, whereas genes for dissimilatory sulfite reduction were horizontally transferred to the Korarchaeota from the Firmicutes. Interactions among enzymes involved in both metabolisms could facilitate exergonic, sulfite-dependent, anaerobic oxidation of methane to methanol; alternatively, 'Ca. M. washburnensis' could conduct methanogenesis and sulfur reduction independently. Metabolic reconstruction suggests that 'Ca. M. washburnensis' is a mixotroph, capable of amino acid uptake, assimilation of methane-derived carbon and/or CO2 fixation by archaeal type III-b RuBisCO for scavenging ribose carbon. Our findings link anaerobic methane metabolism and dissimilatory sulfur reduction within a single deeply rooted archaeal population and have implications for the evolution of these traits throughout the Archaea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke J McKay
- Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA. .,Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA.
| | - Mensur Dlakić
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Matthew W Fields
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Tom O Delmont
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.,Genoscope, Évry, France
| | - A Murat Eren
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.,Josephine Bay Paul Center, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - Zackary J Jay
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | | | | | - William P Inskeep
- Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA. .,Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA.
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35
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Wang Y, Wegener G, Hou J, Wang F, Xiao X. Expanding anaerobic alkane metabolism in the domain of Archaea. Nat Microbiol 2019; 4:595-602. [PMID: 30833728 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-019-0364-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Methanogenesis and anaerobic methane oxidation through methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR) as a key enzyme have been suggested to be basal pathways of archaea1. How widespread MCR-based alkane metabolism is among archaea, where it occurs and how it evolved remain elusive. Here, we performed a global survey of MCR-encoding genomes based on metagenomic data from various environments. Eleven high-quality mcr-containing metagenomic-assembled genomes were obtained belonging to the Archaeoglobi in the Euryarchaeota, Hadesarchaeota and different TACK superphylum archaea, including the Nezhaarchaeota, Korarchaeota and Verstraetearchaeota. Archaeoglobi WYZ-LMO1 and WYZ-LMO3 and Korarchaeota WYZ-LMO9 encode both the (reverse) methanogenesis and the dissimilatory sulfate reduction pathway, suggesting that they have the genomic potential to couple both pathways in individual organisms. The Hadesarchaeota WYZ-LMO4-6 and Archaeoglobi JdFR-42 encode highly divergent MCRs, enzymes that may enable them to thrive on non-methane alkanes. The occurrence of mcr genes in different archaeal phyla indicates that MCR-based alkane metabolism is common in the domain of Archaea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinzhao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Gunter Wegener
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany.,MARUM, Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Jialin Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fengping Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xiang Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. .,State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering, Ocean and Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
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36
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Wilkins LGE, Ettinger CL, Jospin G, Eisen JA. Metagenome-assembled genomes provide new insight into the microbial diversity of two thermal pools in Kamchatka, Russia. Sci Rep 2019; 9:3059. [PMID: 30816235 PMCID: PMC6395817 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-39576-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Culture-independent methods have contributed substantially to our understanding of global microbial diversity. Recently developed algorithms to construct whole genomes from environmental samples have further refined, corrected and revolutionized understanding of the tree of life. Here, we assembled draft metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from environmental DNA extracted from two hot springs within an active volcanic ecosystem on the Kamchatka peninsula, Russia. This hydrothermal system has been intensively studied previously with regard to geochemistry, chemoautotrophy, microbial isolation, and microbial diversity. We assembled genomes of bacteria and archaea using DNA that had previously been characterized via 16S rRNA gene clone libraries. We recovered 36 MAGs, 29 of medium to high quality, and inferred their placement in a phylogenetic tree consisting of 3,240 publicly available microbial genomes. We highlight MAGs that were taxonomically assigned to groups previously underrepresented in available genome data. This includes several archaea (Korarchaeota, Bathyarchaeota and Aciduliprofundum) and one potentially new species within the bacterial genus Sulfurihydrogenibium. Putative functions in both pools were compared and are discussed in the context of their diverging geochemistry. This study adds comprehensive information about phylogenetic diversity and functional potential within two hot springs in the caldera of Kamchatka.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laetitia G E Wilkins
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Policy & Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA. .,Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
| | | | | | - Jonathan A Eisen
- Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.,Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.,Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
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37
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Puigbò P, Wolf YI, Koonin EV. Genome-Wide Comparative Analysis of Phylogenetic Trees: The Prokaryotic Forest of Life. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1910:241-269. [PMID: 31278667 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9074-0_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Genome-wide comparison of phylogenetic trees is becoming an increasingly common approach in evolutionary genomics, and a variety of approaches for such comparison have been developed. In this article we present several methods for comparative analysis of large numbers of phylogenetic trees. To compare phylogenetic trees taking into account the bootstrap support for each internal branch, the boot-split distance (BSD) method is introduced as an extension of the previously developed split distance (SD) method for tree comparison. The BSD method implements the straightforward idea that comparison of phylogenetic trees can be made more robust by treating tree splits differentially depending on the bootstrap support. Approaches are also introduced for detecting treelike and netlike evolutionary trends in the phylogenetic Forest of Life (FOL), i.e., the entirety of the phylogenetic trees for conserved genes of prokaryotes. The principal method employed for this purpose includes mapping quartets of species onto trees to calculate the support of each quartet topology and so to quantify the tree and net contributions to the distances between species. We describe the applications methods used to analyze the FOL and the results obtained with these methods. These results support the concept of the Tree of Life (TOL) as a central evolutionary trend in the FOL as opposed to the traditional view of the TOL as a "species tree."
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Affiliation(s)
- Pere Puigbò
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Division of Genetics and Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Yuri I Wolf
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Eugene V Koonin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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38
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Clouet-d'Orval B, Batista M, Bouvier M, Quentin Y, Fichant G, Marchfelder A, Maier LK. Insights into RNA-processing pathways and associated RNA-degrading enzymes in Archaea. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2018; 42:579-613. [PMID: 29684129 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuy016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA-processing pathways are at the centre of regulation of gene expression. All RNA transcripts undergo multiple maturation steps in addition to covalent chemical modifications to become functional in the cell. This includes destroying unnecessary or defective cellular RNAs. In Archaea, information on mechanisms by which RNA species reach their mature forms and associated RNA-modifying enzymes are still fragmentary. To date, most archaeal actors and pathways have been proposed in light of information gathered from Bacteria and Eukarya. In this context, this review provides a state of the art overview of archaeal endoribonucleases and exoribonucleases that cleave and trim RNA species and also of the key small archaeal proteins that bind RNAs. Furthermore, synthetic up-to-date views of processing and biogenesis pathways of archaeal transfer and ribosomal RNAs as well as of maturation of stable small non-coding RNAs such as CRISPR RNAs, small C/D and H/ACA box guide RNAs, and other emerging classes of small RNAs are described. Finally, prospective post-transcriptional mechanisms to control archaeal messenger RNA quality and quantity are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Béatrice Clouet-d'Orval
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie et de Génétique Moléculaires (LMGM), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Manon Batista
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie et de Génétique Moléculaires (LMGM), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Marie Bouvier
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie et de Génétique Moléculaires (LMGM), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Yves Quentin
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie et de Génétique Moléculaires (LMGM), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Gwennaele Fichant
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie et de Génétique Moléculaires (LMGM), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, 31062 Toulouse, France
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39
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Narrowe AB, Spang A, Stairs CW, Caceres EF, Baker BJ, Miller CS, Ettema TJG. Complex Evolutionary History of Translation Elongation Factor 2 and Diphthamide Biosynthesis in Archaea and Parabasalids. Genome Biol Evol 2018; 10:2380-2393. [PMID: 30060184 PMCID: PMC6143161 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evy154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Diphthamide is a modified histidine residue which is uniquely present in archaeal and eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (EF-2), an essential GTPase responsible for catalyzing the coordinated translocation of tRNA and mRNA through the ribosome. In part due to the role of diphthamide in maintaining translational fidelity, it was previously assumed that diphthamide biosynthesis genes (dph) are conserved across all eukaryotes and archaea. Here, comparative analysis of new and existing genomes reveals that some archaea (i.e., members of the Asgard superphylum, Geoarchaea, and Korarchaeota) and eukaryotes (i.e., parabasalids) lack dph. In addition, while EF-2 was thought to exist as a single copy in archaea, many of these dph-lacking archaeal genomes encode a second EF-2 paralog missing key residues required for diphthamide modification and for normal translocase function, perhaps suggesting functional divergence linked to loss of diphthamide biosynthesis. Interestingly, some Heimdallarchaeota previously suggested to be most closely related to the eukaryotic ancestor maintain dph genes and a single gene encoding canonical EF-2. Our findings reveal that the ability to produce diphthamide, once thought to be a universal feature in archaea and eukaryotes, has been lost multiple times during evolution, and suggest that anticipated compensatory mechanisms evolved independently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrienne B Narrowe
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver
| | - Anja Spang
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, NIOZ, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Utrecht University, AB Den Burg, The Netherlands
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Courtney W Stairs
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Eva F Caceres
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Brett J Baker
- Department of Marine Science, Marine Science Institute, University of Texas Austin, Port Aransas
| | | | - Thijs J G Ettema
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Sweden
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40
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Momper L, Aronson HS, Amend JP. Genomic Description of ' Candidatus Abyssubacteria,' a Novel Subsurface Lineage Within the Candidate Phylum Hydrogenedentes. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1993. [PMID: 30210471 PMCID: PMC6121073 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The subsurface biosphere is a massive repository of fixed carbon, harboring approximately 90% of Earth’s microbial biomass. These microbial communities drive transformations central to Earth’s biogeochemical cycles. However, there is still much we do not understand about how complex subterranean microbial communities survive and how they interact with these cycles. Recent metagenomic investigation of deeply circulating terrestrial subsurface fluids revealed the presence of several novel lineages of bacteria. In one particular example, phylogenomic analyses do not converge on any one previously identified taxon; here we describe the first full genomic sequences of a new bacterial lineage within the candidate phylum Hydrogenedentes, ‘Candidatus Abyssubacteria.’ A global survey revealed that members of this proposed lineage are widely distributed in both marine and terrestrial subsurface environments, but their physiological and ecological roles have remained unexplored. Two high quality metagenome assembled genomes (SURF_5: 97%, 4%; SURF_17: 91% and 4% completeness and contamination, respectively) were reconstructed from fluids collected 1.5 kilometers below surface in the former Homestake gold mine—now the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF)—in Lead, South Dakota, United States. Metabolic reconstruction suggests versatile metabolic capability, including possible nitrogen reduction, sulfite oxidation, sulfate reduction and homoacetogenesis. This first glimpse into the metabolic capabilities of these cosmopolitan bacteria suggests that they are involved in key geochemical processes, including sulfur, nitrogen, and carbon cycling, and that they are adapted to survival in the dark, often anoxic, subsurface biosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lily Momper
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Heidi S Aronson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jan P Amend
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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41
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St John E, Liu Y, Podar M, Stott MB, Meneghin J, Chen Z, Lagutin K, Mitchell K, Reysenbach AL. A new symbiotic nanoarchaeote (Candidatus Nanoclepta minutus) and its host (Zestosphaera tikiterensis gen. nov., sp. nov.) from a New Zealand hot spring. Syst Appl Microbiol 2018; 42:94-106. [PMID: 30195930 DOI: 10.1016/j.syapm.2018.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Three thermophilic Nanoarchaeota-Crenarchaeota symbiotic systems have been described. We obtained another stable anaerobic enrichment culture at 80°C, pH 6.0 from a New Zealand hot spring. The nanoarchaeote (Ncl-1) and its host (NZ3T) were isolated in co-culture and their genomes assembled. The small (∼200nm) flagellated cocci were often attached to larger cocci. Based on 16S rRNA gene similarity (88.4%) and average amino acid identity (52%), Ncl-1 is closely related to Candidatus Nanopusillus acidilobi. Their genomes both encode for archaeal flagella and partial glycolysis and gluconeogenesis pathways, but lack ATP synthase genes. Like Nanoarchaeum equitans, Ncl-1 has a CRISPR-Cas system. Ncl-1 also relies on its crenarchaeotal host for most of its biosynthetic needs. The host NZ3T was isolated and grows on proteinaceous substrates but not on sugars, alcohols, or fatty acids. NZ3T requires thiosulfate and grows best at 82°C, pH 6.0. NZ3T is most closely related to the Desulfurococcaceae, Ignisphaera aggregans (∼92% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, 45% AAI). Based on phylogenetic, physiological and genomic data, Ncl-1 and NZ3T represent novel genera in the Nanoarchaeota and the Desulfurococcaceae, respectively, with the proposed names Candidatus Nanoclepta minutus and Zestosphaera tikiterensis gen. nov., sp. nov., type strain NZ3T (=DSMZ 107634T=OCM 1213T).
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily St John
- Biology Department, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97201, USA
| | - Yitai Liu
- Biology Department, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97201, USA
| | - Mircea Podar
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA; Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Matthew B Stott
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
| | - Jennifer Meneghin
- Biology Department, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97201, USA
| | - Zhiqiang Chen
- Center for Electron Microscopy and Nanofabrication, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97201, USA
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42
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Kato S, Sakai S, Hirai M, Tasumi E, Nishizawa M, Suzuki K, Takai K. Long-Term Cultivation and Metagenomics Reveal Ecophysiology of Previously Uncultivated Thermophiles Involved in Biogeochemical Nitrogen Cycle. Microbes Environ 2018; 33:107-110. [PMID: 29459499 PMCID: PMC5877337 DOI: 10.1264/jsme2.me17165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Many thermophiles thriving in a natural high-temperature environment remain uncultivated, and their ecophysiological functions in the biogeochemical cycle remain unclear. In the present study, we performed long-term continuous cultivation at 65°C and 70°C using a microbial mat sample, collected from a subsurface geothermal stream, as the inoculum, and reconstructed the whole genome of the maintained populations using metagenomics. Some metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), affiliated into phylum-level bacterial and archaeal clades without cultivated representatives, contained genes involved in nitrogen metabolism including nitrification and denitrification. Our results show genetic components and their potential interactions for the biogeochemical nitrogen cycle in a subsurface geothermal environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shingo Kato
- Ore Genesis Research Unit, Project Team for Development of New-generation Research Protocol for Submarine Resources, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC).,Research and Development Center for Submarine Resources, JAMSTEC
| | - Sanae Sakai
- Department of Subsurface Geobiological Analysis and Research, JAMSTEC
| | - Miho Hirai
- Research and Development Center for Marine Biosciences, JAMSTEC
| | - Eiji Tasumi
- Department of Subsurface Geobiological Analysis and Research, JAMSTEC
| | - Manabu Nishizawa
- Department of Subsurface Geobiological Analysis and Research, JAMSTEC
| | - Katsuhiko Suzuki
- Ore Genesis Research Unit, Project Team for Development of New-generation Research Protocol for Submarine Resources, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC).,Research and Development Center for Submarine Resources, JAMSTEC
| | - Ken Takai
- Department of Subsurface Geobiological Analysis and Research, JAMSTEC
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43
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Yan L, Yu D, Hui N, Naanuri E, Viggor S, Gafarov A, Sokolov SL, Heinaru A, Romantschuk M. Distribution of Archaeal Communities along the Coast of the Gulf of Finland and Their Response to Oil Contamination. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:15. [PMID: 29410652 PMCID: PMC5787342 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Baltic Sea is vulnerable to environmental changes. With the increasing shipping activities, the risk of oil spills remains high. Archaea are widely distributed in many environments. However, the distribution and the response of archaeal communities to oil contamination have rarely been investigated in brackish habitats. Hence, we conducted a survey to investigate the distribution, diversity, composition, and species interactions of indigenous archaeal communities at oil-contaminated sites along the coast of the Gulf of Finland (GoF) using high-throughput sequencing. Surface water and littoral sediment samples were collected at presumably oil-contaminated (oil distribution facilities) and clean sites along the coastline of the GoF in the winter 2015 and the summer 2016. Another three samples of open sea surface water were taken as offshore references. Of Archaea, Euryarchaeota dominated in the surface water and the littoral sediment of the coast of the GoF, followed by Crenarchaeota (including Thaumarchaeota, Thermoprotei, and Korarchaeota based on the Greengenes database used). The unclassified sequences accounted for 5.62% of the total archaeal sequences. Our study revealed a strong dependence of the archaeal community composition on environmental variables (e.g., salinity, pH, oil concentration, TOM, electrical conductivity, and total DNA concentration) in both littoral sediment and coastal water in the GoF. The composition of archaeal communities was season and ecosystem dependent. Archaea was highly diverse in the three ecosystems (littoral sediment, coastal water, and open sea water). Littoral sediment harbored the highest diversity of archaea. Oil was often detected in the littoral sediment but rarely detected in water at those presumably contaminated sites. Although the composition of archaeal community in the littoral sediment was sensitive to low-input oil contamination, the unchanged putative functional profiles and increased interconnectivity of the archaeal core species network plausibly revealed resilience and the potential for oil degradation. Halobacteriaceae and putative cytochrome P450 pathways were significantly enriched in the oil-contaminated littoral sediment. The archaeal taxa formed highly interconnected and interactive networks, in which Halobacteriaceae, Thermococcus, and methanogens were the main components, implying a potential relevant trophic connection between hydrocarbon degradation, methanogenesis, sulfate reduction, and/or fermentative growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijuan Yan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Lahti, Finland
| | - Dan Yu
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Lahti, Finland
| | - Nan Hui
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Lahti, Finland
| | - Eve Naanuri
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Signe Viggor
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Arslan Gafarov
- Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Russia
| | - Sergei L Sokolov
- Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Russia
| | - Ain Heinaru
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Martin Romantschuk
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Lahti, Finland.,Institute of Environmental Sciences, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia
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44
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Rodrigues-Oliveira T, Belmok A, Vasconcellos D, Schuster B, Kyaw CM. Archaeal S-Layers: Overview and Current State of the Art. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:2597. [PMID: 29312266 PMCID: PMC5744192 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In contrast to bacteria, all archaea possess cell walls lacking peptidoglycan and a number of different cell envelope components have also been described. A paracrystalline protein surface layer, commonly referred to as S-layer, is present in nearly all archaea described to date. S-layers are composed of only one or two proteins and form different lattice structures. In this review, we summarize current understanding of archaeal S-layer proteins, discussing topics such as structure, lattice type distribution among archaeal phyla and glycosylation. The hexagonal lattice type is dominant within the phylum Euryarchaeota, while in the Crenarchaeota this feature is mainly associated with specific orders. S-layers exclusive to the Crenarchaeota have also been described, which are composed of two proteins. Information regarding S-layers in the remaining archaeal phyla is limited, mainly due to organism description through only culture-independent methods. Despite the numerous applied studies using bacterial S-layers, few reports have employed archaea as a study model. As such, archaeal S-layers represent an area for exploration in both basic and applied research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago Rodrigues-Oliveira
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Aline Belmok
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Deborah Vasconcellos
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Bernhard Schuster
- Department of NanoBiotechnology, Institute for Synthetic Bioarchitectures, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Cynthia M. Kyaw
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
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45
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Eme L, Spang A, Lombard J, Stairs CW, Ettema TJG. Archaea and the origin of eukaryotes. Nat Rev Microbiol 2017; 15:711-723. [DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro.2017.133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 279] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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46
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Martin WF, Tielens AGM, Mentel M, Garg SG, Gould SB. The Physiology of Phagocytosis in the Context of Mitochondrial Origin. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2017; 81:e00008-17. [PMID: 28615286 PMCID: PMC5584316 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00008-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
How mitochondria came to reside within the cytosol of their host has been debated for 50 years. Though current data indicate that the last eukaryote common ancestor possessed mitochondria and was a complex cell, whether mitochondria or complexity came first in eukaryotic evolution is still discussed. In autogenous models (complexity first), the origin of phagocytosis poses the limiting step at eukaryote origin, with mitochondria coming late as an undigested growth substrate. In symbiosis-based models (mitochondria first), the host was an archaeon, and the origin of mitochondria was the limiting step at eukaryote origin, with mitochondria providing bacterial genes, ATP synthesis on internalized bioenergetic membranes, and mitochondrion-derived vesicles as the seed of the eukaryote endomembrane system. Metagenomic studies are uncovering new host-related archaeal lineages that are reported as complex or phagocytosing, although images of such cells are lacking. Here we review the physiology and components of phagocytosis in eukaryotes, critically inspecting the concept of a phagotrophic host. From ATP supply and demand, a mitochondrion-lacking phagotrophic archaeal fermenter would have to ingest about 34 times its body weight in prokaryotic prey to obtain enough ATP to support one cell division. It would lack chemiosmotic ATP synthesis at the plasma membrane, because phagocytosis and chemiosmosis in the same membrane are incompatible. It would have lived from amino acid fermentations, because prokaryotes are mainly protein. Its ATP yield would have been impaired relative to typical archaeal amino acid fermentations, which involve chemiosmosis. In contrast, phagocytosis would have had great physiological benefit for a mitochondrion-bearing cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- William F Martin
- Institute for Molecular Evolution, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Aloysius G M Tielens
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marek Mentel
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Sriram G Garg
- Institute for Molecular Evolution, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sven B Gould
- Institute for Molecular Evolution, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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47
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Spang A, Caceres EF, Ettema TJG. Genomic exploration of the diversity, ecology, and evolution of the archaeal domain of life. Science 2017; 357:357/6351/eaaf3883. [DOI: 10.1126/science.aaf3883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 196] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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48
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Williams TA, Szöllősi GJ, Spang A, Foster PG, Heaps SE, Boussau B, Ettema TJG, Embley TM. Integrative modeling of gene and genome evolution roots the archaeal tree of life. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:E4602-E4611. [PMID: 28533395 PMCID: PMC5468678 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1618463114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A root for the archaeal tree is essential for reconstructing the metabolism and ecology of early cells and for testing hypotheses that propose that the eukaryotic nuclear lineage originated from within the Archaea; however, published studies based on outgroup rooting disagree regarding the position of the archaeal root. Here we constructed a consensus unrooted archaeal topology using protein concatenation and a multigene supertree method based on 3,242 single gene trees, and then rooted this tree using a recently developed model of genome evolution. This model uses evidence from gene duplications, horizontal transfers, and gene losses contained in 31,236 archaeal gene families to identify the most likely root for the tree. Our analyses support the monophyly of DPANN (Diapherotrites, Parvarchaeota, Aenigmarchaeota, Nanoarchaeota, Nanohaloarchaea), a recently discovered cosmopolitan and genetically diverse lineage, and, in contrast to previous work, place the tree root between DPANN and all other Archaea. The sister group to DPANN comprises the Euryarchaeota and the TACK Archaea, including Lokiarchaeum, which our analyses suggest are monophyletic sister lineages. Metabolic reconstructions on the rooted tree suggest that early Archaea were anaerobes that may have had the ability to reduce CO2 to acetate via the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway. In contrast to proposals suggesting that genome reduction has been the predominant mode of archaeal evolution, our analyses infer a relatively small-genomed archaeal ancestor that subsequently increased in complexity via gene duplication and horizontal gene transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom A Williams
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, United Kingdom;
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom
| | - Gergely J Szöllősi
- MTA-ELTE Lendület Evolutionary Genomics Research Group, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anja Spang
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, SE-75123 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Peter G Foster
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah E Heaps
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom
- School of Mathematics & Statistics, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, United Kingdom
| | - Bastien Boussau
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR5558, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Thijs J G Ettema
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, SE-75123 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - T Martin Embley
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom
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49
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Da Cunha V, Gaia M, Gadelle D, Nasir A, Forterre P. Lokiarchaea are close relatives of Euryarchaeota, not bridging the gap between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. PLoS Genet 2017; 13:e1006810. [PMID: 28604769 PMCID: PMC5484517 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Revised: 06/26/2017] [Accepted: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The eocyte hypothesis, in which Eukarya emerged from within Archaea, has been boosted by the description of a new candidate archaeal phylum, "Lokiarchaeota", from metagenomic data. Eukarya branch within Lokiarchaeota in a tree reconstructed from the concatenation of 36 universal proteins. However, individual phylogenies revealed that lokiarchaeal proteins sequences have different evolutionary histories. The individual markers phylogenies revealed at least two subsets of proteins, either supporting the Woese or the Eocyte tree of life. Strikingly, removal of a single protein, the elongation factor EF2, is sufficient to break the Eukaryotes-Lokiarchaea affiliation. Our analysis suggests that the three lokiarchaeal EF2 proteins have a chimeric organization that could be due to contamination and/or homologous recombination with patches of eukaryotic sequences. A robust phylogenetic analysis of RNA polymerases with a new dataset indicates that Lokiarchaeota and related phyla of the Asgard superphylum are sister group to Euryarchaeota, not to Eukarya, and supports the monophyly of Archaea with their rooting in the branch leading to Thaumarchaeota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Violette Da Cunha
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie Moléculaire du Gène chez les Extrêmophiles (BMGE), Département de Microbiologie Paris, France
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris‐Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France
| | - Morgan Gaia
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie Moléculaire du Gène chez les Extrêmophiles (BMGE), Département de Microbiologie Paris, France
| | - Daniele Gadelle
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris‐Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France
| | - Arshan Nasir
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Patrick Forterre
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie Moléculaire du Gène chez les Extrêmophiles (BMGE), Département de Microbiologie Paris, France
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris‐Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France
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50
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Genetic technologies for extremely thermophilic microorganisms of Sulfolobus, the only genetically tractable genus of crenarchaea. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2017; 60:370-385. [DOI: 10.1007/s11427-016-0355-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2016] [Accepted: 12/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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